Conflict in Seruyan, Head of National Armed Forces Denies That Its Members Are Being Hostaged by Residents

The long conflict between Central Kalimantan residents and the company resulted in the residents being arrested by the authorities.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

ILLUSTRATION. One of the fresh oil palm fruit trucks passes by the road in one of the oil palm plantations in East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, on Wednesday (9/9/2020).

PALANGKARAYA, KOMPAS — The conflict between oil palm plantation companies and residents in Central Kalimantan is heating up. TNI members were deployed to mediate between residents and companies.

The conflict spread across three districts, namely West Kotawaringin Regency, East Kotawaringin Regency, and Seruyan Regency. In West Kotawaringin, authorities arrested 13 people suspected of carrying out mass harvesting in plantation areas. A total of 10 of them have been named suspects.

After the arrest, the Pangkalan Banteng Police Station was attacked by residents who were not happy that their family members were arrested. Four people were arrested in connection with the incident (Kompas.id, Sunday May 5th 2024).

In Kotawaringin Timur, authorities have arrested 16 individuals who stole palm fruit from a company. They are all now suspects. They were arrested on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024. Several weeks prior, authorities also arrested seven palm fruit robbers in the same region.

The looters were residents of East Kotawaringin, Seruyan and West Kotawaringin. All the perpetrators are now detained and charged with violating the theft article, namely Article 363 of the Criminal Code. The locations of the thefts are also spread across several areas of palm oil plantation companies, including PT Bangun Jaya Alam Permai (BJAP) 1, PT BJAP 2, PT BJAP 3, and several other companies that have not been mentioned by the Central Kalimantan Regional Police. .

On Saturday (5/4/2024), after the arrest of dozens of people, conflict broke out again in Teluk Bayur Village, Central Seruyan District, Central Kalimantan. Residents forced themselves into the company's territory to demand their rights regarding the plasma plantation. They demanded that the authorities release their families who were arrested because what they did was not theft, but a protest action.

On Saturday night, various videos circulated about riots at PT Bangun Jaya Alam Permai (BJAP) 2. One of the 53-second videos showed residents attempting to force their way into the company's area but being blocked by four members of the military.

A resident of Central Seruyan, M (26), told Kompas that the four TNI members were taken by residents who were protesting. "It was taken in their vehicle, after that it was never seen again," he said.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

ILLUSTRATION. One of the pilot sites for the Long-Term Strategy (SJB) with the intercropping planting pattern in Karang Sari Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, on Thursday (December 19, 2019).

The Head of the TNI Information Center, Major General Nugraha Gumilar, does not deny the existence of interaction between the residents of Teluk Bayur Village, Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan, and several soldiers related to the conflict between the residents and the BJAP 2 palm oil company. However, he denies the hostage-taking of four soldiers. Instead of being held hostage, the soldiers were actually involved in mediating between the residents and the company.

"There is no hostage situation, what is happening is a mediation between the residents of Teluk Bayur Village and the BJAP 2 palm oil company," said Gumilar when contacted from Jakarta on Sunday (5/5/2024).

He did not explain the agreement reached by the parties after the mediation was carried out. Gumilar only confirms that after the mediation, the soldiers have returned to their respective duties.

Also read: Conflict Escalates in Central Kalimantan, Palm Oil Looters Arrested and Officials Attacked

Conflict

The conflict between residents in Central Seruyan and PT BJAP has been going on for a long time. One of the peaks of the conflict occurred last year. Kompas noted that there was a clash between the authorities and residents who protested at the company demanding a 20 percent plasma plantation.

In July 2023, thousands of residents from Suka Mandang Village, Ayawang Village, and Teluk Bayur gathered in front of the gate of PT BJAP. They demanded that the company fulfill its obligation to provide plasma gardens to the community.

The riots caused several damages to the plantation company's facilities, including dozens of operational cars and the company's office. Not only the company's properties were damaged, but the mob also destroyed three operational cars belonging to the Kalteng Police Department.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

The police in Central Kalimantan conducted a crime scene investigation at the site of a shooting incident that resulted in the death of one person in Seruyan. The investigation was carried out at Bangkal Village, Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan on Wednesday (11/10/2023).

The Director of Save Our Borneo (SOB), Muhamad Habibi, revealed that the conflict between PT BJAP and the local people has been ongoing since the company entered the village area. Many of the residents' land has been claimed by the company and planted with oil palms.

After the clash, according to Habibi, the Seruyan government held mediation. Only three village heads were present to represent the community. The company also did not fulfill the residents' demand for plasma. They only stated that they would facilitate the development of community gardens and productive economic ventures according to the latest regulations (Job Creation Law).

The result of the mediation was rejected by most of the community. "Therefore, what is happening now is a form of protest from residents because their demands have not been met," said Habibi.

PT BJAP, along with another PT, according to Habibi, is a subsidiary of a large group named PT Best Agro. The other PT is still facing problems related to its conflict with the residents of Bangkal Village, where a clash that occurred last year resulted in the death of Gijik, a Bangkal resident, who was shot by sharp bullets by the security forces.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

Bullet casings collected by residents from the scene of the incident and tear gas canister shells during the riots in Bangkal Village, Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan, Thursday (12/10/2023).

Kompas has tried to contact Ramly, the legal department of PT Best Agro, but there has been no confirmation. Previously, on December 5 2023, Kompas met with Roby Zulkarnaen, one of the top officials at PT Best Agro who was present at a meeting at the Central Kalimantan Province Plantation Service.

He refused to comment on the many conflicts in his company in Central Kalimantan. "I coordinate with the local government. I also respect the mediation that has been done. We follow the government's directives," said Roby at that time.

When questioned about violations of land management outside the Land Use Agreement (HGU) and issues with plasma farms, Roby replied that they have coordinated with the government and followed government policies. "Later, we will coordinate with the local government, we have implemented policies in accordance with the Job Creation Law," he said.

The Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Oil Palm Entrepreneurs Association (Gapki) in Central Kalimantan, Rizky Djaya, revealed that looting is no longer in accordance with regulations or culture in Central Kalimantan. According to Rizky, firm action is needed to address the issue.

"It is best for law enforcement officials in all districts to take firm action because there are no rules, either from a religious, cultural, or other legal point of view that justify looting. We live in a country governed by law, and the community needs to adhere to it," he said.

Regarding plasma, Rizky said that the company is following the existing regulations. According to the regulations, the plasma is given to residents by the company whose permit appears during or after the plasma regulation is issued.

"Regarding plasma obligations, the rules are (only for) what year permits. "Existing regulations must be paid attention to," said Rizky.

Also read: Mass Action in Seruyan Triggered by Palm Oil Plasma Issue