NASIONALXPOS.CO.ID, DENPASAR —The visit of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) of the Republic of Indonesia, Hadi Tjahjanto to Bali, was welcomed by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster in the Jayasabha room, Denpasar, Bali. Thursday, (26/1/2023).
During the visit, Hadi Tjahjanto, appreciated the Governor of Bali in handling land conflicts in the Province of Bali, as well as providing grants of land belonging to the Bali Province government to the Regional Office of the province of Bali, in order to carry out the duties and functions of government in the areas of Badung Regency, Klungkung Regency, and Jembrana Regency.
Surprisingly, the appreciation given by the ATR/BPN minister to Wayan Koster does not look the same as what happened in the Northern Bali Province, to be exact in Batu Ampar Hamlet, Pejarakan Village, Gerokgak District, Bali.
The reason is, the prolonged polemic of residents Batu Ampar versus the Buleleng Regency Government during the leadership of Putu Agus Suradnyana (PAS) 2012-2022, seemed invisible, even though 55 residents of Batu Ampar already has land ownership rights as evidenced by a 1959 certificate, 1963 cultivation rights, 1982 Minister of Home Affairs Decree for SHM on behalf of Ketut Salin and Marwiyah, and a 1990 governor’s letter and SPPT payment until now, has not been able to complete the polemic.
Nyoman Tirtawan as the full power of attorney for the 55 residents of Batu Ampar also commented on Hadi Tjahjanto’s visit in his tweet on FB by saying that, the land mafia in Buleleng Regency should take firm action.
“Mr. Hadi Tjahjanto, Honorable ATR/BPN Minister, a resident of Batu Ampar Buleleng who has paid taxes from the past until now and has a 1959 land certificate, 1963 work permit, 1982 Minister of Home Affairs Decree for SHM for 55 residents on behalf of Raman et al, SHM on behalf of Ketut Salin and Marwiyah, in fact they were evicted from their land, even a hotel has been standing on it since 2017. Please take firm action against the Land Mafia who makes people destitute, poor and scared,” tweeted Tirtawan, on his FB account, Friday (27/1/2023).
It was not without basis that, Tirtawan said this, he strongly suspects that, there are political interests that benefit certain officials in the Batu Ampar land dispute. Tirtawan, who is also an environmentalist, said that,
“What about the fate of the 55 Batu Ampar residents, whose land was confiscated by the Land Mafia? They have carried out volumes of demonstrations, even reaching the Presidential Palace, but until now, the government is not present because of the suffering of the people, who incidentally are poor and troubled people. However, we are still waiting for the presence of the government, especially the Minister of ATR/BPN. And If there is no concern for the people of Batu Ampar for their suffering, then we will return to Jakarta, at the presidential palace for the second time with a larger crowd,” said Tirtawan to the media crew. (Uchan)
