Three scholars from Andalas University, Leiden University, and Wageningen University studied 150 cases of palm oil land conflicts between communities and corporations.
The research revealed instances of palm oil companies violating the rights of communities over their land.
The findings from the study were compiled into a book titled “Kehampaan Hak: Masyarakat vs. Perusahaan Sawit Indonesia” (Empty Rights: Community vs Palm Oil Companies in Indonesia) and were thoroughly discussed in a book discussion event organized by the Department of Politics and Government, UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, on Monday (August 21).
“The book starts with the stories of nine villages in West Kalimantan. The people of Olak-Olak Village demanded compensation from PT Sintang Raya for their land. They also wanted some of the land returned,” said Professor Afrizal of Andalas University.
“Many protests have been carried out. They demonstrated in front of the regent’s office, the governor’s office, and the company, but all they brought was emptiness.”
The Olak-Olak Village case briefly saw a glimmer of hope when the Supreme Court ruled that PT Sintang Raya must return 11 hectares of land to the community. Unfortunately, the company did not comply with the decision, leading to ongoing conflict.
Palm oil land conflicts were studied in four provinces: West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Riau, and West Sumatra.
“We studied conflict patterns, examined how communities protested, and to what extent they found solutions to their problems,” added Professor Afrizal.
Ninety-nine cases were identified in which companies took and managed community land without consent. The main outcome of these issues is the situation of rights deprivation at the provincial and village levels.
“Formally, communities have rights to their land. Companies must obtain approval and permits before converting community land into plantations. Communities are often entitled to profit-sharing schemes, self-organization, and protests. However, the reality is different,” said Professor Otto Hospes of Wageningen University & Research.
19% of the cases involved companies establishing palm oil plantations in forest areas without permits, and 67 cases involved companies not compensating communities for their land. Intimidation and violence against those who protested also occurred.
Dr. Maharani Hapsari, a political observer and lecturer in International Relations at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, gave her thoughts on the book.
“This book depicts the upstream side of palm oil production in Indonesia, a major industry. We cannot assume communities are weak; they are often adaptive and persevering. We can see that their struggle for their land has lasted for 11-35 years, nearly half a person’s lifetime,” she said.
“From my observation, the strategy seems more effective at the domestic and internal levels. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a mechanism that many envision for government governance on the global stage.”
“However, if we look at the reality, I think the opposite is true; the more local the struggle, the more effective it becomes.”
She also emphasized that the rights of communities that need to be advocated for will significantly influence the development of conflicts. Many palm oil companies have yet to understand that the benefits of their business are also the community’s rights.
“Now, many policies promote the downstream of the palm oil industry. Communities should also have the potential to be involved in this downstream. We need to discuss education about the industrialization of palm oil if we want to make this industry the backbone of our economy,” added Dr. Hapsari.
Resolving conflicts over land authority still requires lengthy efforts and negotiations to achieve justice for both parties because the core of the issue does not solely lie in the interests of the communities but also relates to Indonesia’s position as a world palm oil exporter.
Author: Tasya