Rentetan Konflik Desa Wadas Gara-gara Proyek Bendungan Bener

Summary

In Wadas Village, Central Java, conflicts between residents and police erupted during land measurements for the Bener Dam and andesite mine project, a strategic national initiative by President Joko Widodo. The project, valued at 2.06954176821843 trillion, aims to irrigate 15,060 hectares and produce 650 MW of electricity. The community is divided, with 78% of heads of households opposing the mining, fearing environmental and livelihood impacts. The police's involvement in the land measurement is part of security activities as per a government decree, leading to tensions and arrests.

Takeaways

• 🚔 A conflict erupted in Wadas Village, Bener Subdistrict, Purworejo Regency, Central Java, between villagers and police officers on February 8, 2022, during a land measurement for a dam project.
• 👮‍♂️ 64 people were detained by the Purworejo Police, with three suspected provocateurs undergoing further investigation, while the rest were released.
• 🏗️ The conflict is not the first; it began in 2012 due to the rejection of the dam construction and andesite mining project in Wadas Village.
• 🌟 The Bener Dam project is a strategic national project under President Joko Widodo, with a value of 2.06954176821843 trillion IDR, aiming to irrigate 15,060 hectares and supply 1.60 m³ of raw water per second, generating 650 MW of electricity.
• ⛏ The andesite from Wadas Village will be used as construction material for the Bener Dam, causing a divide among the villagers, with some supporting and others opposing the project.
• 📊 According to data from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute as of April 2021, 78% of the heads of households in Wadas Village reject the mining project.
• 🏞️ The villagers' opposition is rooted in concerns over land rights, livelihoods, and the impact on their ancestral land, with many preferring to preserve the land for future generations.
• 🏘️ The National Land Agency of Purworejo Regency, headed by Andri Kristanto, stated that the total area planned for mining is 617 fields, with 346 fields (over half) already approved for sale by their owners, covering a total area of 114 hectares.
• 📜 The involvement of the police in the land measurement process is part of the security activities outlined in a letter from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, numbered UM.401.2g, dated February 3, regarding the request for security in the implementation of land measurement in Wadas Village.
• 🗣️ The community of Wadas Village is split, with some hoping for the project to bring development and others fearing the loss of their land and way of life.

Q & A

What was the main issue that led to the conflict in Wadas village?

The conflict in Wadas village was primarily due to the land measurement for the construction of a dam and andesite mining project.

When did the conflict in Wadas village occur?

The conflict occurred on Tuesday, February 8, 2002, during the land measurement process in Wadas village.

How many people were detained by the police during the conflict?

A total of 64 people were detained by the police during the conflict.

What was the outcome of the detained individuals?

Three individuals were considered provocateurs and were taken into further investigation, while the rest were released.

Was this the first conflict in Wadas village related to the project?

No, this was not the first conflict. There was a previous incident on Friday, April 23, 2012, where 11 villagers were arrested.

What is the purpose of the dam and andesite mining project?

The dam project is part of a strategic national project under President Joko Widodo's government, aimed at irrigating 15060 hectares of land and providing a water supply of 1.60 cubic meters per second, as well as generating 650 megawatts of electricity.

What is the significance of the andesite mining in Wadas village?

The andesite from Wadas village will be used as construction material for the dam, which is part of the larger project.

What is the division among the villagers regarding the project?

The villagers are divided; some support the project, while others reject it, leading to ongoing conflicts.

What was the stance of the majority of the village heads in Wadas village regarding the mining project as of April 2021?

As of April 2021, 307 out of 405 or 78 percent of the village heads in Wadas village rejected the mining project.

What is the role of the police in the land measurement process?

The police are involved in the land measurement process as part of the security activities outlined in a letter from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

How much land is planned to be used for the mining site, and how much has been approved for sale by the landowners?

A total of 617 land plots are planned for mining, with 346 plots, or more than half, already approved for sale by their owners, covering an area of 114 hectares.