President Jokowi Vows to Follow up Farmers’ Aspirations

President Jokowi accompanied by Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko receives representatives of farmers, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (24/9). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has pledged to accommodate aspirations of farmers regarding the issues of agrarian reforms, land redistribution, social forestry and transmigration communities.

The President made the statement during a meeting with eight representatives of farmers on Tuesday (24/9) at the Merdeka Palace following a rally staged by them in front of the Palace.

During the rally, the farmers proposed a revision to Presidential Regulation Number 86 of 2018 on Agrarian Reform.

“The President noted some issues including agrarian reform, land redistribution, social forestry, transmigration communities, and so on,” said Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko Moeldoko, adding that the substance of the regulation would be reviewed.

Moeldoko added he will invite them to further discuss the issues with the President.

“I will invite them to have an in-depth discussion. We will identify the issues and take concrete measures to resolve the issues,” he said.

In the meantime, Secretary General of the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) Dewi Kartika – one of the representatives of the farmers – said she told the President that the promised agrarian reforms in the form of distribution of nine million hectares to farmers had not been implemented.

According to Dewi, delay in the land distribution was due to land disputes that had not been resolved within the framework of agrarian reforms.

“It is our hope that there is a fundamental change in how the agrarian reform policy can be implemented, ensuring that farmers obtain full rights to their lands, be it those claimed by private or state companies,” Dewi said, adding that the President is committed to implementing agrarian reform.

She also maintained that the resolution will be directly led by the President, not his Ministers. (Bureau of Press, Media, & Information, Presidential Secretariat/ES)

Translated by: Muhardi

Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas