SUMATRA, RAKYAT NEWS – A coalition of civil society organizations has strongly condemned the ongoing eviction attempts by PT. Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (PT. SMART) in Padang Halaban Plantation, North Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra.

The struggle of the local community, particularly the Padang Halaban Farmers Group and Surrounding Areas (KTPH-S), has persisted for decades. The residents of Padang Halaban, comprising six villages, are victims of forced evictions that occurred between 1969 and 1970.

These villages—Sidomulyo, Karang Anyar, Sidodadi/Aek Korsik, Purworejo/Aek Ledong, Kartosentono/Brussel, and Sukadame/Panigoran—span approximately 3,000 hectares. The community has lived and cultivated the land since the Japanese occupation, transforming what was once a Dutch-Belgian palm oil and rubber plantation into thriving villages and farmland.

However, during the authoritarian New Order regime, the government prioritized capitalist interests over the welfare of the people, issuing Cultivation Rights (HGU) that encompassed the community’s settlements and farmland. Since 1970, the residents of Padang Halaban have tirelessly sought justice, but their land has never been returned.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, representatives from the six villages collectively reclaimed 83.5 hectares of their ancestral land in 2009, which had since been under PT. SMART’s HGU.

The legal battle took a devastating turn in 2014 when the Rantau Prapat District Court ruled against the community. This decision was upheld by the Medan High Court in 2015 and the Supreme Court in 2016, stripping the residents of their hopes for justice.

On February 28, 2025, the court issued an eviction order (No. 488/PAN.PN/W2.U13/HK2/II/2025), threatening to displace families who have relied on the land for housing and subsistence farming. For the Padang Halaban community, this land is not just a source of livelihood but also a vital part of their identity and history, especially as they are victims of past human rights violations during the 1965-1966 atrocities.

The situation has escalated as police, military personnel, and heavy machinery have been deployed to the area. The coalition fears that this could lead to widespread violence and further human rights abuses. They are calling on the public to stand in solidarity with the Padang Halaban community and pressure government institutions to halt the evictions and withdraw security forces from the region.

The coalition has issued the following demands:

1. PT. SMART must immediately cease all eviction efforts, especially as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.

2. The Indonesian National Police and Indonesian National Armed Forces must withdraw their personnel from Padang Halaban.

3. The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency must protect the land rights of the Padang Halaban community and revoke PT. SMART’s HGU.

4. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) must monitor the situation, ensure the protection of human rights, and urge the withdrawal of security forces.

The coalition emphasizes that the Padang Halaban community is not fighting for profit but for their survival and the future of their children. The land represents their heritage and dignity, and its loss would be a devastating blow to their way of life.

This call to action is supported by a broad network of organizations, including KontraS, Walhi, Amnesty International Indonesia, and numerous local and international human rights groups. Individuals such as Usman Hamid, Dolorosa Sinaga, and Herlambang P. Wiratraman have also joined the cause, highlighting the widespread concern over this issue.

The coalition urges the government and PT. SMART to prioritize human rights and justice over corporate interests. They warn that failure to do so could result in further violence and deepen the historical wounds of the Padang Halaban community. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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