Land legislation

Land legislation

In your report on the discussions at the public hearing
organized by the United Development Party on Sept. 22, 1995 (The
Jakarta Post, Sept. 23, 1995), a statement was inaccurately
reported as to have been said by me. It was stated in that report
that I said: Sometimes, the financiers are even supported by
government and military officials.

I did not make such a statement. What I did say was that the
former law on land acquisition (Regulations of Home Affairs
Minister No. 15/1975) was misinterpreted as if the decision of
the governor, on the form and amount of the compensation to be
paid to the landowners, was final and binding and therefore must
be accepted by them.

Obtaining land for whatever purpose through the so-called
pelepasan/penyerahan hak (releasing/giving up right) procedure
must be settled through musyawarah untuk mencapai kesepakatan
(deliberations to reach mutual agreement), on both the
acquisition itself and the form and amount of the compensation.
This basic principle is now positively stated in the Presidential
decree No. 55/1973.

BOEDI HARSONO

Jakarta