Students Urge DPRD Leadership to Intensify Oversight of Laoli Land Conflict Resolution
A number of students belonging to the East Luwu People’s Care Alliance (APR Lutim) visited the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) office of PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi on Jalan Gunung Bawakaraeng, Makassar, on Wednesday afternoon (5/8).
The action was carried out to convey aspirations regarding the performance of the East Luwu Regency DPRD chairman in overseeing and facilitating the handling of the agrarian conflict in Laoli Hamlet, Harapan Village, Malili District.
The group was received directly by the Head of the PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi DPD Secretariat, Husain Djuanid.
Through its spokesperson, Anugrah, APR Lutim expressed the hope that the PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi DPD would evaluate Ober Datte as a cadre entrusted with the mandate of East Luwu DPRD chairman. According to them, the oversight function of the regional legislative body in responding to the resolution of the Laoli conflict has not been running optimally.
Anugrah stressed that this step was not a form of personal attitude, but rather a manifestation of public concern for the effectiveness of DPRD oversight so that public trust is maintained.
“We are not here out of hatred for any particular individual. We are here to remind that the DPRD chairman bears political and moral responsibility for the performance of the institution he leads. When the people repeatedly come asking for protection, but the DPRD is unable to demonstrate its oversight function concretely, it is only natural that the public questions the leadership of that institution,” Anugrah asserted.
He added that since the dynamics in Laoli first emerged, the community has sought to pursue polite and constitutional channels. These efforts include conveying aspirations to the East Luwu DPRD, holding audiences with the East Luwu Regency Government, submitting input in a public hearing at the South Sulawesi DPRD, taking legal steps, and submitting reports to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
However, APR Lutim considers that the community’s efforts still require more solid support and oversight from the East Luwu DPRD.
APR Lutim also noted that in a dialogue with the community on 20 October 2025, DPRD Chairman Ober Datte had conveyed a commitment regarding the implementation of an investigative audit into the status of the Karebbe hydropower plant compensation land, which forms the background of the Laoli issue.
“To this day, the public has never learned how the investigative audit promised by the DPRD itself has progressed. There has been no report to the public, no official explanation, and no certainty as to whether the audit was ever actually carried out. Yet this is precisely what the community has hoped for from the outset so that the Laoli issue can be opened up transparently,” Anugrah said.
APR Lutim considers that had the DPRD taken its oversight function seriously from the beginning, opened up broader dialogue, and overseen the entire process transparently, the escalation of the conflict that culminated in the unrest during the land clearing some time ago might have been minimised.
For this reason, the organisation believes it is time for the PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi DPD, as an extension of the central board, to evaluate Ober Datte’s leadership as East Luwu DPRD chairman.
According to APR Lutim, the position of DPRD chairman is not merely a representation of a political party, but a constitutional mandate to ensure that the legislative body carries out its legislation, budgeting, and especially oversight functions over the running of regional government.
“We believe every political party has a moral responsibility to ensure that its cadres holding public office work in accordance with the people’s mandate. Our aspirations to the PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi DPD are part of a democratic effort to encourage improvements in the institutional governance of the East Luwu DPRD,” Anugrah continued.
In addition to urging an evaluation of the DPRD chairman, APR Lutim also asked the East Luwu Regency DPRD to immediately and openly convey the progress of the investigative audit commitment that had been promised to the public, to establish a more independent oversight mechanism for the resolution of the Laoli conflict, and to consistently oversee the implementation of Komnas HAM recommendations.
APR Lutim stressed that the action was not a form of rejection of investment or development in East Luwu. On the contrary, they believe that sustainable development requires a legislative body that is strong, independent, and trusted by the public.
“Investment requires legal certainty. But legal certainty also requires strong oversight from the people’s representative body. Without effective oversight, public trust will continue to erode, and that is not good for the future of development or the investment climate in East Luwu,” Anugrah concluded, echoed by his colleagues.
From observations on the ground, the action proceeded smoothly and peacefully. However, as of the publication of this report, there had been no official statement from the PDI Perjuangan South Sulawesi DPD regarding APR Lutim’s aspirations.