Police Disperse Crowds Blocking Road To Bowosie Forest Tour NTT

NTT - As many as 15 community members from the Racang Buka community blocked the road leading to the Bowosie forest area which was prepared to become an ecotourism location. The activity was dismissed by the West Manggarai Police, NTT.

The Head of Ops for West Manggarai Police, AKP Roberth M. Mbolle, said that the opening of the road was on state land so that nothing could hinder the construction of state roads.

"Our actions on the ground remain persuasive in accordance with applicable law and I convey that there is no trial and trial in the field, we will continue to implement them firmly," said Roberth, quoted from Antara.

If there are problems and debates, his party directs residents to go to court and make legal demands.

"Please file a lawsuit if you feel that the land in the forest area belongs to them, then the court will decide," he added.

The development of the Bowosie Labuan Bajo forest integrated tourism area is now entering the road construction stage. The initial construction, to be precise on the Transflores road, Kaper Village, Gorontalo Village, the opening of the road was accompanied by a number of joint police and military officers.

They also wrote a letter which read "We reject the activities of the Implementing Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF)". BPOLBF installs pillars or stakes in our garden location, we will defend it to the last drop of blood."

The local police have also arrested a resident who was blocking a heavy equipment excavator with the intention of committing suicide.

Some time after he calmed down, he was only allowed to return home at 13.00 WITA. Road openings can be resumed.

Residents of Racang Buka who enter the area of Gorontalo Village, Komodo District, admit that they have been in the Ngorang Bowosie forest area for a long time and inhabit the area.

They also admitted that they had made legal efforts to legally control an area of 150 hectares of the Bowosie forest in the southern part through a scheme to free forest areas into settlements and agricultural land.

Their efforts have obtained final results, the Government has issued a Decree on the Boundary of the West Manggarai Forest No. 357/2016, and only 38 hectares have been granted, which is designated as another area of use (APL).

Outside the 38 hectares of land, it is still state-owned forest, now the central government through Presidential Decree no. 32/2018 has appointed BPOLBF to develop the area into an integrated tourism area with the aim of absorbing labor and improving the economy of the people of Labuan Bajo and Flores in general.