Bali Governor Hands Land Certificate Grant To Buleleng Traditional Village

Bali Governor Wayan Koster on an occasion in Denpasar. ANTARA/HO-Bali Provincial Government

SINGARAJA - Bali Governor Wayan Koster handed over a land certificate grant to the Buleleng Traditional Village for 72 families (KK) who have occupied the local land since 1956.

The handover of the land certificate grant to the Buleleng Traditional Village was witnessed directly by the Bendesa of the Buleleng Traditional Village Nyoman Sutrisna and local indigenous people.

"Before the land certificate grant was handed over to the Buleleng Traditional Village, I received an official report from the Head of the Bali Provincial Government BPKAD regarding the rental rate for residents living on the Bali Provincial Government's land," Koster said in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 3.

In particular, residents living on the land of the Bali Provincial Government in the Buleleng Traditional Village located on Jalan Sakura, Jalan Sahadewa, Jalan Gatotkaca, and Jalan Werkudara Singaraja.

"I asked the head of the Bali Provincial Government BPKAD, how long have the residents lived there? Then I was tasked with finding historical historical data," said Koster.

After receiving an explanation from the Head of the Bali Provincial Government BPKAD, he immediately thought that people who had lived for generations had to rent again to their children and grandchildren.

"This doesn't make sense. I also imagine that the people who live there will not live in peace because they keep thinking that one day they can be relocated, especially since administratively this land belongs to the Bali Provincial Government, so it can be taken over," he said.

The land rental price was previously Rp. 1 million per acre per year. In total, it becomes Rp. 200 million per year for 2 hectares of land.

"I thought, why just looking for Rp. 200 million for that? I could get tens, hundreds of billions at the Ministry. So, I decided that this land was given to the Buleleng Traditional Village. Why? Because traditional villages have awig-awig and pararem rules for manners (residents)," said Koster.

Traditional villages, he continued, could also add palemahan (territory) and be tied up through oararem, so that forever this land became the asset of the traditional village on conditions that it could not be sold.

"Then, I asked the traditional village council to worship (pray) at Pura Dalem stating the promise not to sell or relocate its residents, but this land is still designated for residents without rent," he said.

However, those who occupy it are subject to a kind of "father-father" or customary obligations which are regulated by pararem or can be included in awig-awig.

Koster on that occasion emphasized that in his leadership era he had mapped out the lands of the Bali Province which could be developed into government infrastructure, which were for economic centers, and which could be donated to build schools, offices, traditional village wantsilans to economic support in traditional villages.