‘Saya Tak Mau Mati Di Sini’: Perampasan Lahan di Sirkuit Mandalika

Summary

Mandalika, located in southern Lombok, Indonesia, is a scenic paradise with white sandy beaches and rolling hills. The government aims to develop it into a world-class tourist destination, with plans dating back to the New Order era. Since 2014, Mandalika has been designated a Special Economic Zone, with the goal of attracting over Rp40 trillion in investment. However, the development has faced issues such as land conflicts, human rights violations, and environmental concerns. Despite hosting international events like World Superbikes and MotoGP, the area has struggled with substantial debt and unresolved issues for the local population.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mandalika is a beautiful region located in South Central Lombok with white sand beaches and hill landscapes.
• 😀 The Indonesian government has long had ambitions to develop Mandalika into a world-class tourism destination, dating back to the New Order era.
• 😀 In 2014, Mandalika was designated as a Special Economic Zone and a Super Priority Tourism Destination to accelerate development.
• 😀 The Special Economic Zone in Mandalika spans over 1,000 hectares and is expected to attract investments worth Rp 40 trillion.
• 😀 One of the key attractions in Mandalika is its internationally-standard race circuit, which hosted the World Superbike and MotoGP in 2022.
• 😀 The development of the area is costly, requiring over Rp 10 trillion sourced from foreign debt, bank loans, and state capital participation.
• 😀 Despite the ambitions, the Mandalika project has faced challenges, including land conflicts and accusations of human rights violations.
• 😀 The construction of the race circuit forced hundreds of residents—mostly farmers, livestock keepers, and fishermen—to relocate to distant areas.
• 😀 Many of those relocated now live in permanent settlements with limited land, making it difficult for them to continue farming or raising livestock.
• 😀 Some residents remain in temporary shelters with minimal facilities, awaiting clarity on their future as the development continues.
• 😀 The large-scale tourism development has altered the landscape, with mangrove forests and wetlands replaced by infrastructure, raising concerns about environmental impacts.

Q & A

What is Mandalika, and where is it located?

Mandalika is a region in the southern part of Central Lombok, Indonesia. It is known for its white sandy beaches and beautiful hillsides, making it a popular tourist destination.

What is the government's ambition regarding Mandalika?

The government aims to develop Mandalika as a world-class tourism destination, with an emphasis on attracting investments and improving the local economy.

When did the government begin actively pursuing the development of Mandalika?

The government’s ambition for Mandalika began during the New Order era, but significant progress only started after 2014 when the area was designated as a special economic zone and a super priority tourism destination.

How large is the Mandalika economic zone?

The Mandalika Special Economic Zone spans more than 1,000 hectares.

What is the estimated investment target for the development of Mandalika?

The development of Mandalika is expected to attract an investment of around 40 trillion Indonesian Rupiah.

What major attraction does Mandalika feature to draw tourists?

One of the major attractions in Mandalika is an internationally-standard race circuit, which has hosted prestigious events like the World Superbike and MotoGP in 2022.

How much funding has the development of Mandalika required?

The development of Mandalika has required significant funding, including more than 4 trillion Indonesian Rupiah sourced from foreign debt, banking, and state capital participation.

What challenges or controversies have arisen from the development of Mandalika?

The development has faced issues such as human rights violations, land conflicts, and the forced relocation of local residents. Many of these residents, who were farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders, have been moved to areas far from their original livelihoods.

What has been the impact on the residents who were relocated due to the Mandalika project?

Residents who were relocated to permanent settlements with limited land have faced challenges in continuing their farming and livestock activities. Some others are still living in temporary shelters with minimal facilities, waiting for clarification about their future.

What environmental concerns have been raised about the development in Mandalika?

The large-scale development has led to changes in the landscape, including the transformation of mangrove areas and wetlands into infrastructure. This has raised concerns about the long-term environmental impact.