Amid natural disasters, floods and landslides in Sumatra, caused by environmental destruction that the state failed to anticipate, communities in other regions are instead facing violence in the form of land grabbing and unilateral claims by the Indonesian Military (TNI). Rather than ensuring the safety and recovery of affected citizens, the state has deepened their wounds through escalating intimidation in recurring land-grabbing cases.
Based on news reports and documentation gathered by the Coalition, at least two land conflicts between the TNI and local communities have occurred recently. The first took place in the villages of Wates, Semedusari, and Pasinan in Lekok District, Pasuruan Regency, East Java, where the TNI claimed land for the construction of a TNI battalion and a marine school in November 2025. The second occurred on 4 December 2025, when the TNI again made a unilateral land claim, this time to build a Territorial Development Battalion (BTP) in Tana Lili District, North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi.
Local residents rejected the forced takeover of their land, arguing that the land claimed by the TNI has been cultivated by their families for generations and is not state-owned land.
The Coalition asserts that the execution of land rights must never be carried out arbitrarily and must always follow legal procedures based on a court ruling. Any form of land acquisition, even by the TNI, that does not go through a legitimate judicial process cannot be justified and constitutes a clear violation of citizens’ rights. If there is a land ownership dispute, the law provides a mechanism for resolution through the courts, not by deploying TNI soldiers to confront the people.
The Coalition believes that unilateral land grabbing by the TNI opens the door to even broader human rights violations, ranging from the loss of Indigenous peoples’ rights, the right to adequate housing, to threats against citizens’ safety and security. It is important to remember that land grabbing carried out by deploying TNI personnel to face off against civilians is highly likely to trigger violence and even lead to human rights abuses.
At this point, we remind all parties that in a democratic state governed by law, no institution, including the military, is above the law. Land grabbing and unilateral claims, land occupation, and any other coercive actions not only exceed the legal authority of the TNI, but also contradict fundamental principles of the rule of law, which guarantee due process and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Hence, we recommend the following:
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The Commander of the TNI to order all ranks to immediately halt the forced seizure of citizens’ land;
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The Commander of the TNI to ensure that all units comply with applicable legal procedures by pursuing lawful judicial processes;
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The Minister of Defense to stop the policy of establishing military posts within civilian residential areas in East Java and North Sulawesi.
Jakarta, 09 December 2025
The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform
(Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS, PBHI, Amnesty International Indonesia, ELSAM, Human Right Working Group (HRWG), WALHI, SETARA Institute, Centra Initiative, ICW, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Jakarta, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Pers, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Masyarakat, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Surabaya Pos Malang, Aliansi untuk Demokrasi Papua (ALDP), Public Virtue, Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Jakarta, Perhimpunan Pembela Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (PPMAN), BEM SI, De Jure, Raksha Initiative, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Asosiasi Perempuan Indonesia untuk Keadilan (LBH APIK), Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (KPI), LBH Medan)
Contact persons :
Ardi Manto Adiputra (Imparsial)
Muhammad Isnur (YLBHI)
Julius Ibrani (PBHI)
Al Araf (Centra Initiative)
Wahyudi Djafar (Raksha Initiatives)
Usman Hamid (Amnesty International Indonesia)
Daniel Awigra (Direktur HRWG)
Bhatara Ibnu Reza (DeJure)
Dimas Bagus Arya (Kontras)
Mike Tangka (KPI)
Ivan Saputra (LBH Medan)
Muhammad Naziful Haq (Public Virtue Research Institute)
KontraS
Komisi Untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan
