Jakarta – A coalition of NGOs have warned that the 2012 Land Acquisition Law could lead to the massive conversion of farmland in Indonesia, reducing food production.

The group, led by the Indonesian Farmers Association (SPI), said on Tuesday that it planned to file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court on April 25 seeking to overturn some of the articles, which it says contravene Article 33 of the Constitution.

The article states that "the land and waters and the natural resources within shall be under the power of the State and shall be used for the greatest benefit of the people".

Other NGOs in the group include the Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), the Peoples' Coalition for Fisheries Justice (Kiara) and the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam).

SPI chair Henry Saragih said the new law vaguely defined the term "public interests" and did not provide a satisfactory mechanism for resolution in cases of conflict. "The definition of public interests emphasizes economic infrastructure, which serve the interests of the government and investors, and not necessarily the people," Henry said.

The new law would help the government to speed up construction of many infrastructure projects that have been delayed because of problems in acquiring land and clearing it.

Among public benefits defined by the law are toll roads, mining infrastructure, landfills, hospitals and government offices. (/aml)