Walhi and Community Representatives Appeal to PDI-P in DPR Over Land Conflicts and Environmental Damage

From Aceh, Saddam Nawar highlighted ongoing ecological disasters that remain unresolved. Meanwhile, mining permits and palm oil plantation activities in the area continue unabated.

Saddam requested that the DPR push for accelerated rehabilitation and reconstruction after disasters, as well as thorough evaluation of companies linked to ecological issues in Aceh.

“We bring this to you so that you can urge faster rehab and reconstruction related to ecological disasters, and subsequently carry out a full evaluation of implicated companies,” he said.

Jan Torpa Saribu, representing residents of Marunda in North Jakarta, voiced complaints about evictions suffered by the Marunda Kepu community. He urged the DPR to pay attention to issues that have already been reported to various institutions.

“We have reported the land mafia-driven evictions in Marunda Kepu to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), LBHI, and the Regional DPRD,” Jan said.

Additionally, Cecep Jaelani from Cianjur expressed opposition to a geothermal project in the Mount Gede area, questioning the so-called renewable energy development.

“Considering the ongoing evictions, the problems remain unresolved. Currently, my main struggle is opposing a project promoted as renewable energy, but in practice, it is harmful,” Cecep stated.

Response from PDI-P Faction in DPR

Following the complaints, Dolfie Othniel Frederic, Secretary of the PDI-P Faction in DPR RI, assured that all aspirations would be followed up through commissions partnering with the relevant ministries or agencies.

“We will definitely follow up on everything conveyed in coordination with each commission’s respective partners,” Dolfie said.

Dolfie added that the PDI-P members present also represented several related commissions, including Commission IV Chairman Alex Indra Lukman and Commission III member Mercy Barends.

“Because those present also represent related commissions, they can directly address the issues to their commission partners after this meeting,” he explained.

Regarding disaster issues in Sumatra, Dolfie noted that rehabilitation and reconstruction processes remain a concern for the related commissions.

He reported that the government cited difficulties in data verification as a challenge, while the Ministry of Finance affirmed that the budget for rehabilitation and reconstruction is available.

“The Ministry of Finance always says the funds are available. Yet, we don’t know what the main obstacle is,” he said.

“Assuming the funds are there, why hasn’t construction started? That is the question,” Dolfie continued.

Dolfie emphasized that legislators from the PDI-P faction will continue to investigate the issue through the relevant commissions in DPR RI.

“Our recommendation will primarily be to instruct the government to resolve this matter in the conclusion of working meetings with commission partners,” he concluded.