Rempang conflict reveals weak land ownership system in Indonesia

Representatives of the Melayu indigenous community protest on Sept 18, 2023, in Dumai, Riau Islands, against the government's plan to relocate residents of Rempang island. - Antara

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): In the last few weeks, residents of Rempang, an island that is part of Batam, Riau Islands province, have been evicted to make way for a government megaproject, leading to protests.

The rushed project, which is funded by Chinese investment that President Joko 'Jokow' Widodo secured during his trip to Beijing in July, has forced thousands of islanders to leave the place that they have called home for decades.