Ministry of Cooperatives clarifies land conflict in NTT unrelated to Red and White Village Cooperative programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives, has affirmed that the land conflict in Adonara Timur sub-district, Flores Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), is not related to the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih) programme.

“We affirm that the conflict that occurred is not related to the Red and White village/neighbourhood cooperative programme. The conflict concerns an old dispute between residents of Waiburak village and Narasaosina village in Adonara sub-district, Flores Timur, triggered by a customary land dispute that has persisted across generations,” said the Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Ahmad Zabadi, during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

As is known, tension arose between residents on Friday (6/3), involving villagers from Waiburak and Narasaosina, sparked by differing perceptions regarding plans to utilise land on the border between the two areas.

Subsequently, social media reports emerged linking the conflict in Adonara Timur to the construction of Kopdes Merah Putih.

The Ministry of Cooperatives has provided assurance that no physical construction of outlets or warehouses for Kopdes Merah Putih has taken place at the location. In every cooperative development programme, the government will only use land with clean and clear status, not in a disputed condition.

“We need to emphasise that in every process of physical construction of Red and White village cooperative outlets and warehouses, which is ongoing and will continue to be implemented in approximately 80,000 villages across Indonesia, the government will only use land with clear and clear status,” Zabadi stated.

“This has actually been affirmed by us, and a circular from the Minister of Cooperatives has also confirmed that regarding the land to be used for outlets and warehouses of the Red and White village or neighbourhood cooperative, the status must be clear and clear,” he added.

Based on field visits by the NTT provincial government together with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) at the conflict site, it was reported that no issues regarding Kopdes Merah Putih arose in the dispute. The matter is purely concerning customary rights.

The current situation has become relatively conducive thanks to security from the Police and TNI, as well as a persuasive approach through local community leaders.