Regarding The Relocation Of Tesso Nilo Riau Residents, Komnas Ham: There Is Potential For Human Rights Violation

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) stated that the plan to relocate residents in the Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) area, Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province, has the potential to cause human rights violations.

Komnas HAM chairman Anis Hidayah said his agency had carried out field monitoring at Tesso Nilo on August 5, 2025.

From the results of the review, it was found that threats to residential rights, welfare rights, rights to security, to children's rights, were found, especially due to school closures in the area.

"Komnas HAM found that five public schools were in danger of being closed. If that was allowed to happen, it would harm the future of the children. The presence of armed officers in residential areas also caused fear and trauma to residents," Anis said in a public hearing meeting with Commission XIII DPR RI in Jakarta, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, the areas that will be brought under control have long been inhabited by people with public facilities such as schools, houses of worship, and permanent settlements.

This fact is considered to have the potential to violate the right to develop oneself as regulated in Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights.

Komnas HAM in its report recommended that the government postpone forced evictions in TNTN, open up spaces for participatory dialogue, and avoid excessive use of force.

"Genuine consultation dialogue must be carried out so that settlements do not harm people who have lived in the area for decades," said Anis.

In addition, Komnas HAM asked for the policy of controlling forest areas based on a comprehensive study, including the results of the TNTN ecosystem revitalization team, and ensuring procedural protection for affected residents.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance with the Ministry of Human Rights, Munafrizal Manan, revealed that his party had received 665 human rights complaints throughout January August 2025, three of which came from Riau.

According to him, the TNTN case has received special attention from the government.

"We think that controlling forest areas is necessary, but do not let the rights of residents be neglected. The closure of schools violates the basic rights of children to education so that there must be a solution that ensures that services remain available. We also ask that relocation not be carried out in a hurry without a comprehensive human rights-based solution," said Munafrizal.

He explained that the Ministry of Human Rights had assigned the Riau Regional Office to carry out monitoring and coordination. The Riau Provincial Government has also formed TP4 TNTN through the Governor's Decree for verification and relocation of affected residents.

Munafrizal added that the government encourages conflict resolution through deliberation and mediation between the community, companies and the apparatus.

"Efforts to restore forest areas are important, but the protection aspect of residents who have lived in the area for a long time must also be considered," he said.

The Ministry of Human Rights assesses that enforcement should not be carried out solely with a power approach.

Anis believes that relocation must be based on a comprehensive solution and human rights principle, where the state should not ignore the right to education for children and the right to livelihood of the community.

Through a hearing meeting, Commission XIII of the DPR RI will follow up on the input of Komnas HAM and the Ministry of Human Rights, as well as the public to ensure that the TNTN's structuring policies run fairly and continue to respect the human rights of the affected citizens.