TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Attorney of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Tigor Hutapea, argued that ownership claim of Pari Island made by PT Bumi Pari has no legal basis. According to Tigor, the local people have been living in Pari Island since the time of their ancestors. Moreover, Tigor revealed that the local people have proof of land ownership.
"We suspected that there's a mafia attempting to privatize islands in the Thousand Islands area. How is it possible for a company that has never used the island's claimed ownership on 90 percent of the island?," Tigor said on Sunday, march 5, 2017.
Law No. 1 of 2014 on Coastal and Small Islands Management does not allow private ownership over a small island. The law supposedly provides legal protection for local people living in Pari Island, allowing them to own and manage the island by themselves.
"The residents will report North Jakarta Land Agency to the Indonesian Ombudsman for issuing land certificate for PT Bumi Pari that is administratively defective. We urge for this certificate to be revoked," Tigor said.
Tigor added that PT Bumi Pari had even intimidated local residents and placed security guards in Pari Island.
LARISSA HUDA