The Common Thread of Hercules' Involvement in the Tanah Abang Land Dispute

The name of Rosario de Marshal, alias Hercules, the Chairman of Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu Jaya (GRIB Jaya), has emerged in the controversy surrounding the Tanah Abang land dispute in Central Jakarta. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI states that it is the rightful owner of the disputed land, based on Land Management Right Certificates (HPL) issued in 2008, specifically HPL Number 17 and HPL Number 19. These HPLs were granted to PT KAI after it received asset grants from the Department of Transportation (now the Ministry of Transportation) in 1988. The National Land Agency (BPN) subsequently issued the HPLs to the state-owned railway company in 2008. However, the same land is also claimed by private parties. A resident, Sulaiman Effendi, claims to be the heir to the land, evidenced by a Dutch colonial-era land document, Eigendom Verponding Number 946 from 1923 in the name of Ilias Rajo Mentari. The plot of land near Tanah Abang Station has come under scrutiny following ownership claims from two parties. Wilson Collin, Deputy Head of Law and Advocacy for GRIB Jaya and attorney for the heirs, expressed objections to allegations that his side is illegally occupying the land. “The director (KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin) also said that the mass organisation is the one occupying it illegally; this is not occupation because the heirs have a basis,” Wilson said, quoted from a GRIB TV YouTube broadcast. “It has never been released; if it had been released, then we would be squatting. There has been no sale transaction yet, so how can it be squatting,” Wilson added. Wilson also regretted statements by PT KAI’s President Director and Minister of Housing and Human Settlements (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, which he deemed biased against his side. According to him, the resolution of the dispute should be pursued through civil legal channels. “Therefore, I emphasise that it should be resolved civilly. We have already filed this civilly because there are tendencies to blow it up as if we are occupying; on Wednesday, we registered it at the Central Jakarta District Court,” Wilson said. Meanwhile, PT KAI states that it will take steps to secure its assets at the Tanah Abang land dispute site.