Transmigration Minister Ensures Muaro Jambi Land Dispute Resolution Proceeds According to Law
The government has begun paving the way for the resolution of land disputes that have plagued the Transmigrasi Swakarsa Mandiri (TSM) SP4 area in Gambut Jaya Village, Sungai Gelam District, Muaro Jambi Regency, for nearly 17 years.
This step emerged during the Final Case Review Meeting held by the Ministry of Agraria and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) alongside the Ministry of Transmigration in Jakarta.
The Minister of Transmigration, M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, stated that the resolution of this issue pertains not only to the status of land certificate ownership but also to the state’s responsibility to provide legal certainty for transmigrant communities.
“For almost 17 years, the transmigrant community has been waiting for certainty. The state must not allow them to continue waiting. Our duty is to ensure that the rights of the community are protected while simultaneously maintaining legal certainty,” he said, as reported on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN, Ossy Dermawan, officials from the Ministry of Transmigration, the Muaro Jambi Regency Government, the BPN Regional Office of Jambi Province, the Muaro Jambi Regency Land Office, and several related agencies.
The case review serves as the final stage of a long process involving document research, party clarification, cross-agency coordination, and joint field surveys.
Based on the research findings, 67 plots of land were identified within the transmigrant reserve area, in accordance with Jambi Governor’s Decree Number 285 of 1990.
Of that number, 50 plots covering approximately 99.48 hectares are recommended for follow-up through legal mechanisms due to discovered administrative errors. Meanwhile, 17 plots covering approximately 24.53 hectares were found to have no administrative errors and will therefore continue to receive legal protection.
Iftitah emphasised that the transmigrant community arrived in the area as part of a government programme. Therefore, the state has a responsibility to ensure their rights remain protected.
“This issue is not merely a dispute between certificate holders and the transmigrant community. What is at stake is whether the state continues to respect the decisions it made itself when reserving this area for the transmigration programme,” he remarked.
He reaffirmed that the government will continue to adhere to the principles of a constitutional state, ensuring all land plots are examined objectively based on facts and applicable regulations.