Gov’t to Accelerate Land Inventory, Verification Process to Protect Locals

Presiden Jokowi leads the Limited Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (26/2). (Photo by: Jay/Public Relations).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that the policy on utilizing land in forest areas is important in order to provide legal protection, especially for people who use land in forest areas.

“When I went to Bengkulu yesterday, there is one old village located in a private company concession area. Both then fought in the court and the village is lost,” President Jokowi said on his remarks at the Limited Cabinet Meeting on Land Use Policy in Forest Areas, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (26/2).

According to the President, the dispute also occurred in Java, especially in the Perhutani (state-owned forestry company) areas. Many roads in the village cannot be paved because it needs permission from Perhutani.

Such matters, according to President Jokowi, should be immediately resolved. “Then carry out the inventory and verification of land tenure in forest areas. Don’t let the process be complicated so that the people’s complaints can be resolved quickly,” he added.

Also attending the Limited Cabinet Meeting were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly , Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang, Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno.

In addition, there were also Minister of Village, Development of Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Djalil, Governor of South Sumatra Herman Deru, Governor of Bengkulu Rohidin Mersyah, Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Governor of Jambi Fachrori Umar, and Head of the Finance and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) Ardan Adiperdana. (RAF/EN/JAY/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Yuyu Mulyani