The persistent issue of land conflicts, an enduring struggle with seemingly no resolution in sight, continues to cast its shadow across various corners of the archipelago.
The discord over land rights, typically ensnaring indigenous communities in tussles with corporations, persists with disheartening regularity. Sadly, the government’s attention to reinstating community rights over their land has been far from comprehensive.
In a bid to address this prevailing concern, WatchDoc Indonesia unveiled its latest cinematic endeavor titled “Tanah Moyangku” (My Ancestral Land) during the Ajisaka Festival 2024 on Friday (Dec. 1).
“Tanah Moyangku” is a cinematic chronicle of numerous agrarian conflicts across Indonesia.
The film draws its essence from the research conducted by Professor Ward Berenschot and Professor Afrizal, focusing on 150 disputes between communities and corporations over oil palm land.
Specifically, it delves into instances of land struggles in Kalimantan and Sumatra. Strikingly, the ancestral lands of indigenous communities often go unrecognized, lacking official documentation or land certificates. This void allows corporations to annex uncertified land for their production pursuits.
Many of these land disputes have endured over the years as communities valiantly champion their rights on paper. Unfortunately, the lopsided power dynamics between communities and corporations continually leave the former at a disadvantage.
Edy Purwanto, the film’s director, highlights that indigenous communities possess rights to their land. However, de facto, these rights remain unfulfilled. The ancestral lands, nurtured across generations and predating Indonesia’s establishment, lack the robust legal backing to withstand corporate incursions.
“Agrarian conflicts have persisted for years. Community lands are seized, and the community reaps no benefits—that’s the crux of the issue. This film also highlights the community’s endeavors to stand against corporations. It’s an unbalanced playing field,” Purwanto explained.
“Corporations boast legal teams well-versed in legal processes, whereas indigenous communities lack that advantage. The evidence they present in court is often insufficient, creating an inherent imbalance.”
He further notes that instead of serving as mediators to support communities, regulations often crafted by the community inadvertently present opportunities for corporations to exploit customary lands.
The Omnibus Law on Job Creation, or Omnibus Law, has streamlined processes for investors seeking to manage land in Indonesia. Licensing procedures have been truncated and expedited, even those tied to environmental obligations.
Despite facing opposition from diverse quarters, this law remains in effect. Purwanto underscores that communities are under duress, compelled to fight for their land rights. This land, which holds economic significance, also harbors spiritual and belief values painstakingly fostered through generations.
Ary Lesmana from the World Resources Institute Indonesia also agreed on this issue.
“At WRI, we gather extensive data to aid communities embroiled in land conflicts. It’s not just one or two cases; there are numerous instances we’re assisting with, scattered across all the islands,” Lesmana revealed.
“It’s undoubtedly intricate because, in court, communities must redefine the boundaries of their land, often marked solely by plants or trees. We assist in mapping, calculating, and even drafting a management plan—a task the community, on its own, would find challenging.”
The “Tanah Moyangku” screening took center stage as part of the Ajisaka Festival 2024, an initiative spearheaded by the Department of Communication Science, UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
Aligned with its theme, “Nature Conservation: Empowering Youth Advocacy Through Digital Media Creation,” this event seeks to galvanize young voices to champion causes related to humanity, fauna, and flora in the communications realm.
By doing so, the Ajisaka Festival aspires to nurture change agents committed to fostering an eco-friendly and sustainable way of life.
Author: Tasya