600 police protect bulldozers as Sinar Mas subsidiary evicts farmers in North Sumatra

Sumatra, Thekabarnews.com—More than 600 police officers helped PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology (SMART), a subsidiary of the Sinar Mas Group, bring heavy machinery to Padang Halaban, Aek Kuo District, North Labuhan Batu Regency, North Sumatra, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The machinery was used to tear down farmers’ homes and farmland.

The operation was aimed at members of the Padang Halaban Farmers Group (KTPHS), who had lived on and farmed the land since before Indonesia became independent. In fact, the corporation wants to kick the farmers out of what they say is their ancestral land. This land is also the main source of their income.

The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) sharply criticized the eviction and the claims of intimidation. Moreover, Dewi Kartika, the KPA Secretary General, argued that governmental policies had infringed the farmers’ constitutional rights.

She said there were three main problems: courts not taking into account the farmers’ historical claims and the Basic Agrarian Law. She also mentioned the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ministry/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) giving PT SMART more land-use rights even though the public was against it. In addition, Sinar Mas Group owns millions of hectares of land. KTPHS farmers only defend 83 hectares.

The fight started in 1972, when PT SMART’s growth forced thousands of people from six communities to leave their homes. As a result, their landholdings went from 3,000 hectares to just 83.5 hectares. The state gave the farmers land registration certificates in 1958.

There were further attempts to evict farmers between 2009 and 2012 and again in March 2025, but the farmers were able to stop them. Since January 16, 2026, police and corporate personnel have allegedly coerced people to leave their homes. They reportedly offered Rp5–9 million in compensation. They have also cut off electricity and limited connection with solidarity groups.

KPA said that the land in question has been on the list of Agrarian Reform Priority Locations (LPRA) since 2017. In conclusion, the group asked President Prabowo Subianto to stop evictions, protect farmers’ constitutional rights, and speed up agricultural reform by activating the Parliamentary Special Committee for Agrarian Conflict Resolution (Pansus PKA). They also want the government to set up a National Agrarian Reform Implementing Agency (BP-RAN).