Tourists visiting Merak Kecil Island in Cilegon, Banten, on June 27. - Antara
JAKARTA: Islander communities are facing shrinking living space as more small islands across the country fall into private hands, an issue that has gained renewed attention following reports of islands being sold, raising concerns over land rights in outlying island regions.
Reports have emerged in the past week that some small islands within Indonesia’s territory are listed for sale on privateislandsonline.com, a website managed by Canada-based firm Private Islands Inc.
As of Sunday, The Jakarta Post found at least three listings from Indonesia, namely two plots of lands on Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and a land on Seliu Island in Belitung regency, Bangka Belitung Islands.
Previously, the website reportedly featured other islets in Riau Islands and NTT, with no seller information being publicly disclosed in the listings.
People living near small islands that are often listed for sale on such websites have been complaining that lands previously owned by a local community have been gradually taken over by private companies.
In Karimunjawa Islands in Jepara regency, Central Java, for example, firms have been controlling unclaimed smaller islets located near inhabited islands.
“We didn’t know back then that our island was a beautiful place that needed to be kept, and the government never educated or communicated with us about it,” said Bambang Zakariya of environmental group Lingkar Juang Karimunjawa.
Bambang, who has been living in Karimunjawa for most of his life, saw that residents started selling what they saw as unproductive land to meet basic needs, once their coconut businesses’ revenue declined. According to him, only about 20 per cent of land on Karimunjawa Islands are owned by local communities today.
“After many of us relinquished our land use rights, our living space inevitably shrank,” he said during a discussion on Thursday (June 26), adding that local residents are often not allowed to enter to fish in the parts of the island that are bought by companies.
“It is ironic. While others enjoy the beauty of Karimunjawa, we have become mere guests and workers on our own island.”
A similar story was also observed on Pari Island in the Thousand Islands regency in Jakarta, where Asmaniah, head of the island’s women’s community, saw many islets were renamed and made off-limits to locals after being purchased by private firms.
Those buying the islands often promised local residents compensation and job opportunities, she recounted, such as when a reclamation for a private project on the island damaged locals’ seaweed farms. But the pledges are rarely fulfilled.
“No investors have ever brought prosperity to us,” Asmaniah said.
“The more permits the government grants, the less space we have to fish, grow mangroves or harvest seaweed.”
According to data from the People’s Coalition of Fisheries Justice (Kiara), at least 237 small islands across the archipelago have been privatised by individuals or corporations, both domestic and foreign, despite the Agrarian Law limiting land ownership to Indonesian citizens.
A 2016 agrarian and spatial planning ministerial regulation allows land use rights for business activities on no more than 70 per cent of a small island’s area, with unclaimed small islands being immediately managed by the government for national interests such as defence, economy or environmental conservation.
Law No. 1/2014 on coastal and small island management also requires any holders of investment permits on small islands or coastal areas to guarantee access for local residents.
The problem lies in different interpretations of the regulations between the government and the islanders, said Kiara secretary-general Susan Herawati.
“The government sees islands as empty space and is often quick to open them up for investment, when in fact, they’re still used by locals for farming or docking boats,” Susan said.
“Most of the investments have brought no real benefit or improved the welfare of island communities at all,” she continued.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono reasserted on June 23 that small islands could not be sold, as the government is only allowed to grant business permits to activities that do not interfere with conservation efforts.
He also requested the Communications and Digital Ministry to block access to the website in the country. Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid said his office would verify the ownership status of the advertised islands.
“If the ownership violates the regulations, it will be subject to enforcement,” the minister said on Thursday, as quoted by Tempo.co. Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, chair of House of Representatives Commission II overseeing home affairs, said the commission would hold a meeting with the Home Ministry and the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry on the matter on Tuesday.
“We want to know who holds the rights to these islands,” the NasDem Party lawmaker said, “and also review how the government is responding to the controversy over island sales.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
