Bandarlampung, Ekuatorial – Despite of illegally encroached forest areas, Mesuji residents refused partnerships offer from the company arguing that it was only temporary agreement, said a local villager on Friday (20/2).
Initially, Register 45 district of Mesuji comprised of 33,500 hectares but PT Silva Hutani (SIL) had been granted additional permits for a total of 43,100 hectares during New Order era. However, thousands of people claimed the area and built their own villages inside the area since Reform era. Consequently, the area has been the center of conflict between villagers of Talang Gunung and Labuhan Batin and the company for land ownership since 2011.
Uliyati, a villager of Mesuji, said that Mesuji forestry agency had invited all field coordinators of Register 45 land occupation offering partnerships but people rejected as the program would not guarantee rights of land ownership for them.
“They [villagers] will be given two hectares per families with an agreement that one hectare for Albesia tree and one hectare for cassava,” said Uliyati. “[They offered] 75 percent of the yields is for the company and the rest will be given for villagers for 25 years.”
“We obviously object [to the partnership] because we only ask for one thing which is enclave [our villages] as promised by central government. The 7,000 hectares is a village not forest,” said Uliyati referring to the total area of Talang Gunung village.
Murni, head of Mesuji forestry agency said that there has yet any final decision on the partnership. “There will be socialization the partnership program on Feb 27, especially on two villages claiming Register 45,” said Murni adding that Labuhan Batin village claimed 2,600 hectares and Talang Gunung village claimed 7,000 hectares. “Partnership is between the company and villagers. We, the government, only facilitate.”
Akhmadi Sumaryanto, member of Commission II of Lampung House of Representatives, said that the partnerships did not mean to justify the encroachment.
“The government only wants to see its people to be prosperous but also to protect forests. This partnership might be the solution to return Register 45 area to be green as it used to be,” said Sumaryanto adding that from the total of 43,100 hectares, only 16,000 hectares can be planted with hard woods as the rest was occupied for housing areas. Eni Muslihah