Protests Against Pertamina Red Zone Disrupt Jambi City Anniversary

A large-scale protest by the Forum to Reject Pertamina’s Red Zone disrupted the 625th anniversary celebrations of Jambi City on Tuesday. The demonstrators, many of whom were women, gathered in front of the Jambi City Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building to voice their opposition to the designation of a ‘red zone’ by Pertamina, which has effectively blocked the ownership rights of 5,506 plots of land held under valid Freehold Titles (SHM).

The affected land parcels are spread across several sub-districts, including Simpang III Sipin, Mayang Mangurai, Kenali Asam, Kenali Asam Bawah, Kenali Asam Atas, Paal Lima, and Suka Karya. Protesters expressed frustration over the prolonged period of uncertainty, warning of larger-scale actions, including blockades of Pertamina facilities and government offices, if the issue remains unresolved.

According to the protesters, the unilateral blocking of land certificates by the National Land Agency (BPN) since late 2025 has directly impacted the livelihoods of thousands, stripping them of legal certainty regarding their property. They criticised local representatives for failing to engage in meaningful discussions to find a solution.

Suhatman Pisang, Head of the Advocacy Division for the Forum, described the situation as a result of erroneous land administration policies by the BPN. He alleged that the blocking of thousands of valid certificates was an arbitrary act based solely on claims from certain parties. “How is it possible that five thousand plots of land with valid freehold titles are blocked based on a single letter? An SHM is a legal document from an official state institution,” Suhatman stated. He further noted a lack of verification and socialisation before the ‘red zone’ was established, leading to widespread public anxiety.

Following the protest, Jambi Mayor Maulana and the Chairman of the DPRD, Faried Alfarelly, met with representatives of the protesters at the Graha Siginjai building. During the meeting, it was agreed to submit a formal letter to the President of the Republic of Indonesia requesting the revocation of the land certificate blockages. The letter, read by DPRD Chairman Kemas Faried Alfarelly, asks the President to intervene in the dispute involving State-Owned Asset (BMN) claims on land already legally certified to residents.