TNI Demolishes 15 Houses in Lenteng Agung, Residents Claim Land Is Not Military Property
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Rejection of house demolitions by TNI personnel in RW 10 Lenteng Agung, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, went viral on social media on Monday (6/4/2026).
Despite protests from residents, 15 houses were still demolished because the land is claimed as an asset of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD).
The residents’ legal representative, Matheus Dahaklory, said the protest action had been planned before the demolition took place.
“Because some of the residents here have family members who are still active in the TNI,” said Matheus when met by Kompas.com at the location on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
However, the residents’ efforts to hold back the TNI personnel had little impact. The 15 houses were still demolished.
Representing the residents, Matheus claimed the land is not owned by the TNI, but has the status of eigendom verponding, which during the Dutch colonial era was the highest form of land ownership.
At that time, the land was controlled by a Dutchman named A.A. de Groot, who later bequeathed it to his descendants up to the present day.
However, this ownership status is no longer valid. Land owners must convert the ownership into a certificate of ownership (SHM).
To obtain an SHM, residents must first handle the tax payment status. Matheus said the residents have not paid taxes since occupying the land in 1968.
“Not yet, because the residents here did not know who the land owner was,” said Matheus.
In 2022, residents intended to process the tax payment letter. However, according to Matheus, this effort was obstructed by the community leader who is a retired TNI AD member.
During the demolition, Matheus said several residents were injured due to clashes with TNI personnel. Therefore, residents plan to report the incident to the TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) for follow-up.
“If compensation is provided with a new location, so-called relocation, and the residents are moved there, that’s fine,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Indonesian Army Information Centre, Brigjen TNI Donny Pramono, claimed the land occupied by residents belongs to TNI AD.