From Rempang to Wadas, Muhammadiyah Nilai National Strategic Projects become Hulu Dispute and Environmental Damage

Chairman of the Central Leadership (PP) of Muhammadiyah in the field of Law, Human Rights, and Wisdom/Public Policy, Busyro Muqoddas (ANTARA/Fahmi Alfian)

SURABAYA - The Chairman of the Central Leadership (PP) of Muhammadiyah for Law, Human Rights, and Wisdom/Public Policy Busyro Muqoddas stated that a number of land disputes and environmental pollution conflicts in Indonesia have a relationship with the implementation of the National Strategic Project (PSN).

Busyro made the statement during a Public Discussion held by the Hikmah and Public Policy Institute (LHKP) of the East Java Muhammadiyah Regional Management (PWM) in Surabaya, Sunday, January 25.

Busyro assessed that various agrarian and environmental conflicts that occurred in a number of regions had common characteristics, namely that the disputed land was a region that was projected to be part of the PSN.

"The conflict over land disputes, environmental pollution, and the criminalization of residents that occurred on Rempang Island in Riau Province, in Ternate, in Morowali, and in Wadas Village in Purworejo, Central Java, have upstream consequences due to the National Strategic Program policy," said Busyro, quoted from Antara.

Based on research and findings conducted jointly with a number of credible research institutions, these conflicts are closely related to the industrial downstream policy, especially in the mining sector.

Busyro explained that the policy of downstreaming was sourced from upstream regulations, such as the Job Creation Law, the Mineral and Coal Mining Law (Minerba), as well as a number of other laws and regulations which were then implemented within the framework of PSN since the era of President Joko Widodo's government.

According to him, the impact of the policy is often felt directly by the community at the grassroots level, ranging from land conflicts, environmental damage, to the criminalization of residents who defend their living space.

Busyro admitted that he had conveyed a number of findings related to these conflicts to law enforcement officials, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which he considered to have a strategic role in preventing potential violations of the law and prolonged conflicts.

He hopes that all Muhammadiyah cadres in various regions, especially in East Java, can increase their sensitivity to environmental and agrarian issues as part of efforts to maintain natural sovereignty and community rights.

Busyro also reminded the importance of maintaining harmony between humans and nature in every development policy, so that land disputes and environmental pollution related to PSN do not occur in East Java.

"Hopefully, nothing like this will happen in East Java," he said.