Conflict between Residents and Palm Oil Plantations in East Kotawaringin Becomes Halikinnor-Irawati "PR".

The incumbent regent and deputy regent of East Kotawaringin are running for regional elections in 2024. The social conflict is waiting to be resolved soon.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

The incumbent pair of Regent and Vice Regent of East Kotawaringin, Halikinnor and Irawati (center-right), have re-registered at the local PDI-P chapter in East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, on Thursday (May 9th, 2024).

SAMPIT, KOMPAS - A social conflict between palm oil plantation companies and the Kotawaringin Timur community in Central Kalimantan will be the focus of the Halikinnor and Irawati pair, who have reunited as candidates for the regent and deputy regent of Kotawaringin Timur. The incumbent pair hopes to be able to solve their unfinished work in the next period.

Dedi Susanto (32), a resident of Penyang Village, who has been in conflict with companies around his village for years, revealed that the conflict with these companies has been going on for decades. Since the time of his father's life until now. The conflict has been inherited.

Now, Dedi is fighting for his land which is disputed with the company. "Our grandparents' graves are in the middle of the plantation, already planted with oil palm," he said, Friday (10/5/2024).

He does not have high hopes for the government because the conflict seems to never end. He is even close to being tired of politics. "Whoever is elected, if they can resolve the conflict, then thank God. If not, well, that's it," he said.

During the registration as candidates for mayor and vice mayor at the PDI-P East Kotawaringin DPC, Halikinnor and Irawati responded to the abundance of social issues in their region. On Thursday (9/5/2024), the incumbent pair who are members of PDI-P revealed that social conflicts are one of the array of issues that will be resolved in the next period.

"In connection with the current trend regarding community demands for plasma, we have formed a social conflict handling team (PKS) filled with various stakeholders, including the TNI-Polri," said Halikinnor.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

The sign in this picture was found in the middle of an oil palm plantation in Sebabi Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan on Wednesday (8/5/2024). According to residents, the sign was installed at the beginning of last year when dozens of police officers gathered and trained in that location. Not far from the sign, there are huts belonging to residents who are currently in conflict.

The Regent of East Kotawaringin admitted that up to this point, 40 percent of companies out of the total palm oil plantation companies in East Kotawaringin have not yet implemented plasma gardens. The rest have fulfilled their obligation, although most of them are still in the form of advance funds to the community and their benefits are considered to have been received by the community.

"Some we handle, some are handled by the provincial government because the area is located in two districts. But that doesn't mean the conflict is over. I am confident that as long as there is investment, there will always be problems, but this is our priority," said Halikinnor, who is also the Chairman of the PDI-P DPC in East Kotawaringin.

Kotawaringin Timur is a district with the widest oil palm plantations in Central Kalimantan, even in Indonesia. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that in 2018, the area of oil palm plantations in the district reached 410,833 hectares. In the past two years, company plantations in the region have become a target of palm fruit thieves, many of whom have been recently caught by the police.

As before, the Central Kalimantan Regional Police together with the East Kotawaringin Police arrested seven perpetrators who were suspected of looting palm fruit in the area in mid-April. They have now become suspects and charged with theft (Kompas, 17 April 2024).

Also read: Residents Desperate for Mass Harvest of Palm Oil Central Kalimantan Regional Police Implement Article on Theft

I am sure that as long as there is investment there will be problems, but this is our priority.

Two weeks after the arrest, precisely on Saturday (4/5/2024), the police again arrested 13 people who were suspected of looting palm fruit belonging to the company or being involved in the effort. They were arrested while gathering on the border between West Kotawaringin Regency and Seruyan Regency.

The Executive Director of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) Central Kalimantan, Bayu Herinata, explained that the looting of palm oil is an old phenomenon that is now re-emerging. There are many factors that affect this.

"There is a background as to why looting is rampant, namely the inequality of prosperity and the lost land of the community around the palm oil plantation," said Bayu.

Also read: Mass Palm Fruit Harvesting Action in Central Kalimantan Expands 16 People Arrested