PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Subulussalam Mayor H. Rasyid Bancin (HRB) has taken decisive action by officially reporting PT Laot Bangko to Indonesia’s Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) over suspected violations of its land use rights (HGU). The report was filed during his visit to the ministry’s Jakarta headquarters on Monday (May 19).
HRB was accompanied by Senior Advisor Baginda Nasution and was received by key officials, including ATR/BPN Secretary General Pudji Prasetijanto Hadi; Director General of Cadastral Surveying and Mapping Virgo Eresta Jaya; Director General of Land Dispute and Conflict Resolution Eko Priyanggodo; and Director General of Agrarian Governance Yuliajaya Nirmawati.
During the meeting, HRB outlined ongoing agrarian issues in Subulussalam, particularly actions taken by PT Laot Bangko, which allegedly dug land demarcation trenches without consulting local authorities. The unilateral move reportedly cut off public access roads and disrupted the daily lives of surrounding communities.
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“This is a measure to protect citizens’ rights from corporate overreach,” HRB said in a written statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Wednesday (May 21).
He further condemned the company’s actions as a blatant violation of the social rights of local communities. “This is a clear breach that disregards the social rights of our people, making them feel like strangers in their own land,” he stated.
As Chair of the Agrarian Reform Task Force in Subulussalam, HRB revealed that he had coordinated with local leaders, law enforcement, and community figures to gather evidence supporting the allegations against several companies.
He also appealed to the ATR/BPN Ministry to provide full support in helping the city government enforce better HGU governance. HRB urged a prompt revision of HGU boundaries to ensure legal clarity and justice for the people.
“We need legal guidance to ensure this enforcement aligns with applicable laws,” he concluded.
This report marks an initial step in the city’s broader effort to uphold community land rights and sends a strong message to companies that neglect regulatory compliance. (*)
Report by: Nukman Suryadi Angkat
