Digitisation of the Land Administration System Seen as Key to Preventing Agrarian Conflict
Strengthening the national land administration system and digitalisation are seen as crucial steps to uphold legal certainty, protect community rights, and increase public trust in state institutions. Modernising land administration and data integration are urgently needed as land disputes and conflicts in Indonesia become more complex.
The issue emerged at the National Dialogue Forum titled “Mafia Tanah 2026: Negara Tidak Boleh Kalah” held by PB HMI (Pengurus Besar Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam) in Jakarta on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The forum brought together academics, law enforcement officials, government representatives and civil society organisations to discuss strengthening land governance and more integrated enforcement of the law.
Criminology and law expert and Secretary of the Doctoral Programme at Universitas Jayabaya, Kristiawanto, said land issues today are not merely administrative; they require stronger law enforcement and synchronised land data.
“Land law cannot be viewed solely from an administrative perspective. In many cases there are indications of criminal acts that require serious and integrated handling,” Kristiawanto said. He added that modernising land administration and data integration are important steps to minimise potential conflicts or overlaps in land ownership.
AKBP Ricky Paripurna Atmaja SIK MH of the Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dittipidum) said strengthening document validation and digitising the land system are essential to prevent abuse of land rights. He argued that inter-agency synergy must be strengthened so that the handling of land-related cases is more effective and transparent.
Meanwhile, Rocky Soenoko, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Handling Conflicts among Community Groups and Adat Land under the Directorate for Prevention and Handling of Land Conflicts at ATR/BPN RI, said the government is continuing land administration reforms through digitising certificates and integrating national land data.
According to Rocky, the measures are expected to reduce the potential for land ownership conflicts while strengthening legal certainty for the public.
Dr Al Araf, Chairman of Centra Initiative and a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Brawijaya, said fair and transparent resolution of agrarian conflicts is essential to sustaining public trust in the state and the legal system.
“The state must ensure that the protection of community rights is carried out fairly and transparently,” Al Araf said.
The forum also discussed several land issues of public concern, including a case in Kelurahan Damai, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Muhammad Alfarizzi, Director of LBH Salemba, explained that the case is currently under investigation at Bareskrim Polri on suspicion of forging documents and embezzling rights to immovable property.
Rifyan Ridwan Saleh, Head of the Legal, Defence and Security Section of PB HMI, said the forum provides a space for dialogue to push for a stronger, more modern land system that is accountable and protective of public legal certainty.
“This forum is part of an effort to push reform of the land system and strengthen enforcement against mafia land practices in Indonesia,” he said.