House Commission III Calls for Temporary Halt to Agrarian Conflict Cases
The House of Representatives (DPR RI) Commission III has requested the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Attorney General’s Office to temporarily halt all criminal cases related to structural agrarian conflicts. This request was one of the key conclusions from a public hearing held by Commission III with the Agrarian Reform Consortium and the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police regarding the criminalisation of agrarian activists.
“Commission III of the DPR RI requests Polri and the prosecution to temporarily suspend all criminal offences related to structural agrarian conflicts,” stated the Chairman of Commission III, Habiburokhman, in Jakarta on Monday. The Commission also called upon the Chief of National Police to provide security protection, maintain a conducive environment, and prevent the criminalisation of activists and local citizens involved in resolving agrarian conflicts. This is particularly relevant for locations currently undergoing dispute resolution, in accordance with the Presidential Staff Office letter dated 12 March 2021 regarding the Request for Protection of Priority Locations for Agrarian Conflict Resolution.
Specifically, the Commission requested the NTT Regional Police and the High Prosecutor’s Office to cease criminal proceedings against lawyer Antonius Yohanis Bala regarding allegations of unauthorised entry into private property. Law enforcement agencies were urged to adhere to the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) regarding the immunity rights of advocates, prioritising restorative justice and dispute resolution in Sikka Regency, NTT, in accordance with applicable laws.
During the meeting, the Secretary General of the Agrarian Reform Consortium, Dewi Kartika, explained that based on reports from members for the 2025–2026 period, there have been 123 cases of criminalisation involving 113 victims. These cases occurred across 12 provinces, with 91 cases related to plantation conflicts, eight related to forestry conflicts, and 21 related to mining conflicts. Meanwhile, the NTT Regional Police explained the handling of cases involving an advocate, activists, and two tribal chiefs defending the Soge Natarmage and Goban Runut indigenous communities in Sikka Regency. The individuals were reported by PT Krisrama (formerly PT Perkebunan Kelapa Diag) and are suspected of violating Article 167 paragraph (1) of the old Criminal Code regarding unauthorised entry into property.