Results Of Investigation Of Rempang Eco City Since 2023 Handed Over By The Indonesian Ombudsman To ATR/BPN To The Police

Demonstrations by residents of Pulau Rempang in front of the BP Batam office rejected the eviction of the Rempang Eco City project which ended in chaos in September 2023. (ANTARA-Yude)

The Indonesian Ombudsman submitted an investigation report (LHP) related to the National Strategic Project of Rempang Eco City, Riau Islands (Kepri). RI Ombudsman member Johanes Widijantoro said the investigation took place from September 2023 to early January 2024. "In the case of Rempang, we, the Indonesian Ombudsman, have carried out a process of collecting data, examining, investigating from September 2023 to the beginning of this month (January 2024) and we have conveyed the results to related parties,” he said during a press conference monitored online from Jakarta, Monday, January 29, which was confiscated by Antara. The LHP was handed over to the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), the Batam Entrepreneurship Agency (BP), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Batam City Government, and the Environmentally Friendly Investment Development Development Team (Green Investment) in the Pulau Rempang area. “ Within the next 30 days, the Indonesian Ombudsman is waiting for what will follow-up or response from the agencies we mentioned earlier in following up on what was recommended by the Ombudsman,” Johanes said. Johanes said that from the results of the investigation into the initiative itself, the Indonesian Ombudsman found that there was maladministration regarding what happened in Rempang. "Basically the Ombudsman found that there was maladministration related to negligence, protracted delays, and non-procedural steps in the context of the development of this Rempang Eco City," he said. Each relevant agency has been given a corrective note by the Ombudsman. To the Police, the Ombudsman requested that restorative justice be put forward in resolving the demonstration cases on September 7, 2023 and September 11, 2023. "“Polri, in this case we ask to prioritize restorative justice. If possible, the hope will actually be a good feedback for residents in Rempang for police actions that do not prioritize the legal process through the judiciary, but through restorative justice,” he said. According to Johanes, residents of Rempang who demonstrated refused to be relocated are actually fighting for their interests. Therefore, the Ombudsman asked for restorative justice to be put forward. “ If we talk about crime, criminal law, they are actually trying to fight for what is in their interest to stay there. But then, of course, the police also have arguments as to why their actions lead to criminal law enforcement,” he said. Next, the Indonesian Ombudsman emphasized that the Ministry of ATR/BPN must work according to existing laws and regulations and prioritize the principle of non-discrimination.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman asked the Batam City Government to follow up on the Batam Mayor's Decree Number KPTS.105/HK/III/2004 dated March 23, 2004 regarding the determination of the old village area in Batam City. “ We all know that the legalization process of the people living in the old village has actually been carried out by the Batam City Government for a long time. However, according to the information and data we found, recently the process was stopped, incomplete, and new problems arose in line with the national strategic project policy which later threatened their existence,” said Johanes. Meanwhile, to BP Batam, the Ombudsman asked that the best solution be found for people who still refuse to be relocated. The Ombudsman hopes that no party will feel aggrieved by the solution that was born later.