Komnas HAM Seeks Information from PKH Task Force over Land Conflicts in Riau
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has sought information from the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) about several land conflicts reported by residents in Riau.
Komnas HAM Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation Saurlin P. Siagian said the commission had asked the task force to explain its legal basis, working mechanisms, and the process for taking over land and transferring it to subsequent parties.
“Komnas HAM summoned Satgas PKH in relation to several cases brought to the commission. We then held a discussion lasting around two hours with representatives of the task force, led by Dr Dwi Agus Arfianto, S.H., M.H., Director D at the Attorney General’s Office’s Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes, and his team,” Saurlin said in a video statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Saurlin said the task force explained that, after enforcement operations, land was handed over to two entities: PT Agrinas and MIND ID, in cases involving mining-related land.
According to Saurlin, Satgas PKH said its primary targets were companies occupying land illegally. After land is taken over, it is assessed and compensation is sought before it is handed over to the state.
Komnas HAM specifically sought information about three cases in Riau: customary land in Tambusai Utara village, Tambusai Utara district, Rokan Hulu regency; a land dispute between the Suka Sakai farmers’ group and another community group in Kota Garo village, Kampar regency; and a land conflict in Kemuning district, Indragiri Hilir regency.
“All three concern the takeover and enforcement of land by Satgas PKH, followed by its transfer to PT Agrinas. Conflicts then occurred on the ground, and that is why we summoned the task force,” he said.
Saurlin said the complaints came from residents who claimed their land had also been taken over during the enforcement process.
The task force, he added, said the operations were based on land-area data from the Ministry of Forestry and data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) for areas related to mining.
“On the ground, however, many community groups have claimed that their land or plantations were also taken over by Satgas PKH,” he said.
Following the information provided, Komnas HAM will summon PT Agrinas in the near future to seek an explanation of how it has managed the land since it was transferred by Satgas PKH.
“We will summon PT Agrinas to ask how it has carried out its work after the land was handed over by Satgas PKH. We will call it in the coming weeks,” Saurlin said.