The Cause Of A Midnight Clash Case In Pancoran Buntu: Land Dispute Between Pertamina And The Residents

Situation of clashes between residents and mass organizations and police officers in Pancoran Buntu (screenshot ERA.ID)

JAKARTA - Clashes occurred in Pancoran Buntu, Pasar Minggu route, South Jakarta. Two lanes are closed from the flow of the vehicle. Reportedly, the clash involved residents with mass organizations and the police. What is the background of this clash?

Judging from the live broadcast by ERA.ID on Facebook, there are shards of glass and stones scattered on the road around. In addition, fully clothed officers were also seen around the area of the clash.

Backed to July 2020. At that time the residents of Gang Buntu II were forcibly evicted by PT Pertamina Persero. Residents were forced to move out of the 4.8 hectare land, which has been inhabited by 2.000 people since 20 years ago. However, PT Pertamina claimed the land belonged to them.

For the residents, the eviction was flawed in legal procedures. Residents do not accept being evicted from the land that is still in dispute. They know very well that evictions cannot be carried out before a court decision is made. In addition, residents also reported a lot of intimidation and terror they experienced.

Many residents have fled the land out of fear. Even so, a number of others still survive. Then the residents were reported to the South Jakarta Police on charges of Article 167 of the Criminal Code regarding land grabbing.

A series of evictions

Reported by CNN, citing the statement of the Head of Advocacy of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Nelson Nikodemus. He explained that since then, a series of eviction efforts have been carried out on behalf of PT Pertamina Training and Consulting (PTC), a subsidiary of PT Pertamina which claims land ownership.

During that time the residents continued to question a number of things. For example, what are the evictions for?

On January 11, PT Pertamina visited the residential area. They brought proof of land ownership by PT PTC. This evidence is used as the basis for the eviction. There were other things that were questioned by the residents, namely regarding the eviction warning letter.

PT Pertamina failed to produce the letter. They said that the demolition activity was not an eviction, but the recovery of state assets. Since then, the residential areas have been affixed with signs with the words "This land and/or building belongs to PT Pertamina" and "This house must be vacated".

The residents are increasingly confused and feel pressured because they feel that they have not agreed on anything with PT Pertamina. Katrena did not move either, PT Pertamina returned a few days later with 30 members of community organizations in uniform. A number of goons are present with them.

The mob carried crushing hammers, chainsaws, and an excavator unit to bulldoze residents' houses. The residents couldn't remain silent. They blocked the gang until a riot broke out. The authorities intervened. But the riots did not stop there.

On February 22, clashes between residents and gangs of eviction resumed. The residents revealed an incident that happened to an elderly resident named Gito. Gito was forcibly taken by Brimob officers to a nearby early childhood school building.

Gito's unfortunate fate continued when his shoving action with the police was reported with charges of assault/beatings. Intimidation and evictions continued, even when residents were afflicted by floods. On February 24, the flooding post built by residents was crushed by an excavator.

Residents report to National Human Rights Commission

In the midst of a series of eviction efforts, on January 13 to be precise, residents reported the intimidation committed by Brimob officers to residents to National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). "We went to the National Human Rights Commission and reported that Pancoran residents felt intimidated by Brimob officers", said a resident named Okta Yuda Irawan, quoted by RRI.

"We are standing on the ground of a dispute. Basically, residents do not defend what is not their property but survive according to corridors”he added.

Okta described the intimidation. According to Okta, at first the presence of the apparatus seemed to be mediating. However, the situation changed. The Brimob officer was actually involved in various attempts to intimidate residents.

"Complaining there is evidence in the form of videos of the existence of Brimob officers there, starting from the act and elements of intimidation carrying weapons and residents feeling frightened", said Okta.

Pertamina claims to have 25 HGB certificates

Most recently, PT Pertamina Training and Consulting has claimed land ownership in the Gang Buntu II area, Pancoran, South Jakarta. "By law, Pertamina's ownership rights to the land are strengthened through 25 Building Use Rights certificates [HGB] issued by the South Jakarta Land Office 11 National Land Agency and the Relief Deed No. 103 of 1973", said PTC Legal Manager Achmad Suyudi, written by CNN, Wednesday, March 17.

Suyudi said that the ownership had been socialized through dialogue with residents since July 2020. Suyudi also refused to be called as closing the lines of communication with local residents. Suyudi even said that his party had provided compensation to residents.

"PTC has taken legal action in accordance with the applicable regulations", said Suyudi.

Regarding the involvement of the police, Suyudi said this was an effort to curb and monitor the field. Pertamina, said Suyudi, has also coordinated with government officials, starting from the Mayor of South Jakarta, Pancoran District, to Pancoran Sub-district and neighborhoods.

*Read other information about the DISPUTES OF PERTAMINA AND THE CITIZENS OF PANCORAN BUNTU or read other interesting articles by Yudhistira Mahabharata.

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