Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – Environmental group Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) revealed that 82 percent of Indonesia's land spaces are controlled by big corporations.
"The current domination by corporations is 82 percent, which is acquired by concessions and permits in the sector of forestry, plantations, and mining," said Walhi Executive Director Yaya Nur Hidayati on Thursday, March 22.
According to Walhi's records, the land spaces acquired by corporations in the sector of forestry amounts to 31.7 million hectares and 11.1 million hectares of land space for business use. Meanwhile, 32.7 million hectares are controlled by mining corporations and 83.5 million hectares used for mining in the oil and gas industry.
Related to Amien Rais' previous statement deeming President Jokowi's land certificate program as a way to dupe the people, Yaya said the government indeed has accommodated the people by handing them land certificates but that has yet addressed the disparity of land domination.
Yaya suggested that the government should evaluate and each permit and concession for land and forest area throughout the country.