West Papua BPN Says Wasior Airport Construction Can Continue Even Though Land Is Still In Dispute

Coordination meeting of the Land Procurement Task Force for the location of IS Kijne Airport, Teluk Wondama Friday, July 22. (ANTARA/HO-Zack Tonu B)

WASIOR - The National Land Agency (BPN) of West Papua Province said that land acquisition for the construction of the new Mawoi Wasior airport in Teluk Wondama Regency could continue even though there are still disputes or legal processes in the Supreme Court (MA).

West Papua Regional Head of BPN Freddy Kolintama said that the ongoing legal dispute in court should not delay the stage of land acquisition, including the preparation of funds for land compensation by the regional government.

However, Freddy Kolintama said, the payment of land compensation can only be made after a decision has permanent legal force. He said this at a meeting of the Land Procurement Task Force for the location of IS Kijne Airport, Wondama Bay, Friday, July 22.

"The process continues, but the compensation value is entrusted to the court until the legal decision is made. So, if the money is already in court, it's his business (the land owner) has finished with the land. It's just a matter of civil or criminal settlement later," he said.

Freddy emphasized that land acquisition for public purposes, such as airport construction, should not be hindered in principle.

As long as the compensation funds have been deposited with the court, the regional government can ask the court to carry out executions if there are parties who try to hinder the ongoing stages.

"If the execution is still rejected, there can be a request to the police to secure it. Why? For the public interest, it must be above personal interest. That is the principle," said Freddy, according to Antara.

He hopes that all processes and stages related to land acquisition for the construction of the new airport will continue.

"Later, whoever has the right, the court will decide. If it is clear (the winner), please just take it (the money)," explained Freddy in a coordination meeting led by the Secretary of the Teluk Wondama Denny Simbar and attended by relevant officials, as well as representatives of the owner's soil community.

In the meeting, it was decided that the IS Kijne Airport Land Procurement Task Force was led by the Head of the Wondama Bay Regency Land Office. The task force is given 30 days to complete the work.

Next, the appraisal team or independent appraisers will come down to assess how much compensation for land and growing plants must be paid by the local government to the land owner.

The Head of the Wondama Bay Environment and Land Service, Simson Samberi, hopes that the land acquisition will run smoothly so that a land certificate can be issued in the name of the Wondama Bay Regency Government.

Land certificates are the main requirement requested by the Ministry of Transportation and Bappenas to be able to start the physical construction of a new airport.

"We were given time until next October to hold the certificate. We hope this work can be accelerated," said Samberi.

The construction phase of the new Wondama Bay airport began in 2016. However, it has been delayed until now.

Regent Hendrik Mambor and Deputy Regent Andarias Kayukatuy are targeting the physical construction of the new airport to start in 2023.