Bara Perlawanan Warga Pulau Sangiang | Buka Mata

Summary

The video highlights the ongoing struggle of residents on Sangiang Island, near Jakarta, as they resist land privatization by developers. The island, historically designated as protected land, was reclassified as a tourism area, sparking conflict with local inhabitants. Despite government and investor pressure, including criminalization and ecological sabotage, the residents fight to defend their ancestral land. Their situation mirrors the recent controversy in Rempang, Riau. The community remains resilient, hoping the government will not renew the developers' permits, despite facing ongoing threats to their livelihood and homes.

Takeaways

• 🏝️ **Conflict over Pulau Sangiang**: The residents of Pulau Sangiang are resisting the privatization of their land by developers, citing long-standing community ties to the island.
• ⚖️ **Privatization vs. Heritage**: The struggle is framed as a fight against the privatization of a heritage island by powerful developers under the guise of tourism and development.
• 🏡 **Land Ownership Dispute**: Residents assert that they have ancestral rights to the land, backed by historical documents and long-term residence, while the government and private companies claim ownership.
• 🔄 **Changes in Island Status**: In the 1990s, the island's status was altered from a nature reserve to a tourist destination by the government, which led to the displacement of many residents.
• 💼 **Corporate Influence**: PT Pondok Kalimaya Putih, the primary developer, has been accused of manipulating legal processes to claim land, leading to large-scale displacement of the island’s inhabitants.
• 🐍 **Environmental Intimidation**: Residents reported instances of environmental manipulation, where animals like wild boars and venomous snakes were introduced to the island to discourage farming and force residents off their land.
• 👨‍⚖️ **Legal and Social Pressure**: Since 2014, residents have faced legal battles, intimidation, and criminalization, with several residents being accused of illegal land use.
• 🌐 **Connection to Larger Issues**: The struggle at Pulau Sangiang is likened to other land conflicts in Indonesia, such as the recent tensions at Pulau Rempang, showing a pattern of state and corporate collusion.
• 💪 **Community Resilience**: Despite the declining number of families on the island, the remaining residents are determined to continue their fight for justice and land rights.
• 🙏 **Hope and Faith**: The residents maintain hope through their faith, believing that with prayer and perseverance, they will eventually win back their land.

Q & A

What is the main issue faced by the residents of Pulau Sangiang?

The residents of Pulau Sangiang are struggling against the privatization of their land by developers, backed by the government, which aims to convert the island into a tourist area.

How does the situation on Pulau Sangiang compare to the situation on Rempang Island?

Similar to the situation on Rempang Island, residents of Pulau Sangiang are facing eviction by the government under the pretext of investment and tourism development. Both communities are fighting to defend their ancestral land.

What historical event contributed to the conflict between the residents and developers on Pulau Sangiang?

The conflict began in the 1990s when the government changed Pulau Sangiang’s status from a nature reserve to a natural tourism park, and later issued land use permits (HGB) to private companies, displacing the residents.

What is the significance of the island for the residents of Pulau Sangiang?

The residents view Pulau Sangiang as ancestral land, which they claim was granted to them by the Sultanate of Banten. It holds deep cultural and historical significance for the community, who have lived there for generations.

How did the government justify converting Pulau Sangiang into a tourism area?

The government claimed that the island was being damaged by illegal encroachment, which they used as a justification to convert it into a natural tourism park and grant permits to private companies.

How have residents of Pulau Sangiang been affected by the development projects?

Residents have been forced to leave their land, faced criminal charges, and endured environmental sabotage, such as the introduction of pests like wild boars and venomous snakes, which destroyed their crops and livelihoods.

What was the role of PT Pondok Kalimaya Putih in the conflict?

PT Pondok Kalimaya Putih was granted land-use rights on Pulau Sangiang and has been central to the efforts to evict residents, using various legal and physical intimidation tactics to remove them from the island.

What kind of intimidation did the residents face after PT Pondok Kalimaya Putih was granted rights to the land?

In addition to the environmental sabotage with pests, several residents were criminalized and charged with illegal land use, even though they had not sold or surrendered their land to the company.

What legal actions have been taken against the residents of Pulau Sangiang?

In 2017, three residents were charged with illegally occupying land that was supposedly owned by the developer. This was part of an ongoing pattern of intimidation and legal actions against the community.

What are the hopes of the residents of Pulau Sangiang regarding their land dispute?

The residents hope that the government will side with them and not extend PT Pondok Kalimaya Putih's lease, allowing them to remain on their ancestral land and protect it from further privatization.

Why do the residents remain optimistic despite the challenges they face?

Although the odds seem stacked against them, residents like Lukman believe that through faith and perseverance, they will be able to win their struggle to keep their land and preserve their way of life.