Indonesian Army Addresses Clashes During House Demolition in Lenteng Agung
The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) has issued a statement regarding a viral video capturing clashes with residents during the demolition of several houses in the Lenteng Agung area, South Jakarta.
Army Information Service Chief Brigadier General Donny Pramono claimed that the 15 houses demolished were not on disputed land. Donny stated that they were former Zikon 15 official residences owned by the Army Engineering Centre (Pusziad).
Therefore, he said, the demolition was carried out for asset normalisation. He claimed that the land is part of the assets of the Denzijihandak/SDS Unit of Pusziad, covering 44,841 square metres.
Donny added that the land also has strong legal validity through a Right of Use Certificate Number 00184 of 2016.
“What happened in Lenteng Agung (yesterday) was not a clash or land dispute, but rather the enforcement and demolition of 15 units of former Zikon 15 official houses, carried out by Pusziad on land and building assets owned by the TNI AD,” he said in a written statement on Tuesday (7/4).
He explained that the ex-Zikon 15 area being enforced covers 15,250 square metres, which has indeed been designated as official residences for active soldiers.
Donny revealed that the land is planned to be used for the development of the unit from Kizijihandak to Denzijihandak. This change in unit status will result in an increase in personnel numbers and a greater need for official residences and facilities for active-duty soldiers.
“In accordance with regulations, the official houses in Lenteng Agung are classified as Group II State Houses, intended for active TNI members and must be returned to the unit if the occupant has retired, transferred, or is no longer entitled to occupy it,” he said.
He acknowledged that before the on-site enforcement, Pusziad had also taken gradual persuasive and administrative steps.
Socialisation, he said, began in July and August 2024, involving RT, RW, sub-district, district, National Land Agency (BPN), and the house occupants.
The procedure continued with the issuance of Warning Letter I on 16 October 2024, Warning Letter II on 30 December 2024, and Warning Letter III on 5 August 2025.
“The enforcement was only carried out on 15 units of houses that were already vacant and whose electricity supply had been cut off since January 2026. The activity was also accompanied by personnel from the Lenteng Agung Police Sector and other relevant parties,” he said.
“Thus, it is not true that the incident this morning was a seizure or land dispute, but rather an effort to normalise and restore the function of TNI AD official houses in accordance with applicable regulations,” he added.
Previously, dozens of residents in RW 10, Lenteng Agung Sub-district, had blocked TNI personnel who were about to carry out the demolition on Monday (6/4).
The rejection action was carried out by unfurling banners protesting the planned eviction, which was said to be for the construction of soldiers’ flats.
Tension arose when officers took down the residents’ banners. Several residents also viewed the action as a forced eviction without a court order.