Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has granted around 1,000 farmers in Teluk Jambe, Karawang regency, West Java, permits to use 2,145 hectares of forest areas as part of the government's social forestry program.
"I still remember a protest rally you staged several months ago in front of the Presidential Palace. At that time, you buried yourselves in front of the palace, right?" Jokowi told Teluk Jambe farmers from Karawang and Bekasi – two West Java regencies – during an event in Muara Gembong, Bekasi.
To raise awareness and gain the government's attention on agrarian conflicts in their area, the Teluk Jambe farmers buried themselves in coffins during a demonstration in front of the Presidential Palace in March.
"At that time, I asked you all: 'What's the legal status of your land?' You replied: 'Sir, I have an SKD [land ownership letter from village officers]'," Jokowi said in his dialogue with Teluk Jambe farmers in March.
The President further said that using SKD as a legal document to prove someone's land ownership was not effective. "That's why I immediately asked National Land Agency head [Sofjan Djalil] to process people's land certificates," Jokowi said.
He said that because farming land owned by the Teluk Jambe farmers was located in areas belonging to state-owned forestry company Perhutani, the government gave them certificates that would legally allow them to cultivate their farming areas.
"So please take care of the forest-use permits for 35 years. If the land was truly essential for the people's welfare, the permits would be extended for another 35 years. That means you have the right to work there. The legal basis of your land is now clear, so you don't have to demonstrate in front of the Presidential Palace anymore," he said. (hol/ebf)