Conflict on Rempang Island, Government Asked to Prioritize Humanist Approach

The demonstration by residents against the eviction of the traditional village on Rempang Island was chaotic. The government is asked to prioritize a humanist approach in handling agrarian conflicts on Rempang Island.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Konflik di Pulau Rempang, Pemerintah Diminta Utamakan Pendekatan Humanis

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

The police sprayed water to disperse the crowd who had previously demonstrated in front of the Badan Pengusahaan Batam office in the Riau Islands on Monday (11/9/2023).

BATAM, KOMPAS - A protest by thousands of Malay citizens who reject the relocation of traditional villages on Rempang Island, Riau Islands, turned violent. Several officers were injured in the incident. To prevent similar events from happening, the government is urged to prioritize a humanistic approach in handling agrarian conflicts on Rempang Island.

A demonstration related to agrarian conflict on Rempang Island took place in front of the Batam Development Agency (BP) office in Batam, Kepri, on Monday (11/9/2023).

One of the mass coordinators, Ariandi from the Malay Tribe in Kepri, stated that there were more than 1,000 people who staged a rally. In addition to the Malay residents of Kepri, some of the protesters came from Riau, West Sumatra, and West Kalimantan.

"This is a form of solidarity among the Malay residents with the Rempang residents to reject the relocation of the traditional village related to the Rempang Eco City project," said Ariandi. The demonstration is the second one in BP Batam."

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Thousands of Malay residents from several regions staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Batam Development Agency in the Riau Islands on Monday (11/9/2023).

The demonstration which began around 9:00 a.m. initially proceeded peacefully. The Head of BP Batam and also the Mayor of Batam, Muhammad Rudi, briefly spoke to calm the crowd.

"I have already offered for representatives of residents to come to Jakarta together to convey their aspirations. This (Rempang Eco City) is a National Strategic Program, the decision of which lies with the central government, and my authority does not extend to that," said Rudi.

However, around 12.00, a disturbance broke out as the crowd threw rocks and bottles at the BP Batam office. As a result, the BP Batam building was damaged and several officers were injured.

Also read: Clashes on Rempang Island, dozens of students faint due to tear gas

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

The police used a water cannon to repel the crowd who were throwing bottles and stones at the Batam Concession Agency office, Riau Islands, Monday (11/9/2023).

According to the Head of Barelang Regional Police, Commissioner Nugroho Tri Nuryanto, there were at least 15 police officers injured. There were also injured victims from BP Batam Security Directorate, but their exact number is yet to be confirmed.

"We, the authorities, also have children and wives. Imagine if our children do not feel sad when they see their fathers being hit by stones," said Nugroho.

Refused relocation

Malay figure and lecturer from the Faculty of Economics at Raja Ali Haji Maritime University in Tanjung Pinang, Muhammad Syuzairi, regrets the actions of the mob who damaged the BP Batam building. Expressing aspirations should be done peacefully.

The agrarian conflict on Rempang Island began when BP Batam planned to relocate all residents, totaling approximately 7,500 people. The relocation is being carried out to support investment development on Rempang Island.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A street vendor who was frightened hugged his child as a commotion arose due to protests by citizens in front of the Batam Development Agency office in the Riau Islands on Monday (11/9/2023).

According to the plan, an industrial, service, and tourism area called Rempang Eco City will be built there. The project, which is being developed by PT Makmur Elok Graha (MEG), is expected to attract investment of up to Rp 381 trillion by 2080.

Residents of Rempang reject the relocation plan offered by the government due to the presence of 16 Malay traditional villages. The residents are asking for the development of the Rempang Eco City project to be carried out without eviction as the 16 traditional villages occupy only about 10 percent of the total land area on Rempang Island.

Also read: Eviction Plans That Haunt Rempang Island Residents

The government ignored residents' requests to carry out development without displacing traditional villages. Previously, the Head of Barelang Police stated that Rempang Island must immediately be clean and clear because it will be handed over to PT MEG on September 28 2023.

"The government keeps talking about relocation, despite the residents already rejecting it. This has made the residents feel frustrated, causing them to choose demonstrations as the only way to pressure the government to pay attention to their aspirations," said Syuzairi, who previously served as an Assistant to the Government and Assistant to the Economic Development of the Batam City Government."

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Residents hold up a poster rejecting the eviction of Rempang Island while demonstrating in front of the Batam Development Authority office, Kepulauan Riau, on Wednesday (23/8/2023).

Syuzairi believes that the government should prioritize a humanistic approach in resolving conflicts in Rempang. This can be achieved, among others, by postponing the relocation plan for the residents.

"How can the residents accept relocation plans if there are no example houses yet? Regarding relocation, currently the government has only reached the stage of submitting proposals to the DPR Commission VI," said Syuzairi.

He assessed, as its name suggests, Rempang Eco City should be built without evicting residents. Traditional Malay villages that have existed for hundreds of years should be preserved and become part of Rempang Eco City.

The government continues to talk about relocation, even though residents have refused.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

The police secured the area during clashes with locals who refused the development of the Rempang Eco City project in Rempang Island, Batam, Kepulauan Riau, on Thursday (7/9/2023).

"The government must humanize people in the development of an Eco City. Residents who refuse relocation should not be forcibly evicted," said Syuzairi.

In line with that, Uba Ingan Sigalingging, a member of the Kepri DPRD Commission IV, said that economic development should be based on respect for human rights.

The government cannot immediately replace the social and cultural rights of Rempang residents with material things, such as the relocation scheme that has been offered (Kompas, 9/9/2023).

Also read: Advocacy Team Asks Police to Stop Criminalizing Rempang Residents