After the Sumatra corporate permits were taken away, the KPA wants land rights to be restored

Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) is happy that President Prabowo Subianto has taken away the licenses of 28 companies that were involved in destroying forests and causing ecological disasters in Sumatra. However, the group stressed the need for concrete efforts to restore people’s land and customary rights following the migration.

On Tuesday, January 20, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said that the revoked permits encompass logging, mining, and plantation work in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

One of the most famous cases is PT Toba Pulp Lestari, which had concessions that covered 167,912 hectares. KPA alleged that for decades, the firm has taken land from Indigenous people. In addition, it harmed the Batak people’s traditional forests in North Sumatra.

Delima Silalahi, a member of the KPA National Council, said the revocation marked a victory for Indigenous people who have faced threats and attacks while defending their territory.

KPA Secretary General Dewi Kartika remarked, “This judgment cannot just lead to the revocation of permits or a change of operators.” She said that giving control to new groups without restoring land rights and fixing environmental damage was a disastrous idea.

KPA said at least 17 of the 28 corporations have engaged in land seizures and other land-related conflicts. The group asserted that the land monopolies possessed by large plantation, mining, and forestry companies have a direct correlation with environmental disasters in Sumatra.

KPA said that the problem was national in scope and asked the government to make a full review of corporate concessions all across Indonesia. In addition, they urged the government to speed up agrarian reform. This should include setting up a national agency to settle agricultural disputes and restore people’s rights.