Rempang Island Residents Clash with Authorities Over Land Acquisition

Tensions have escalated on Rempang Island, Batam City, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia, as residents clashed with authorities following the unilateral installation of land management rights (HPL) signs by BP Batam (Batam Development Authority) on July 14th. The signs were placed in the Pantai Melayu village area, a location long managed by the community and overlapping with a planned school site, sparking strong opposition from residents. Scuffles occurred as police attempted to control the protesting residents. Video footage captured the Head of Batam's Intelkam Unit adopting an aggressive stance towards a female resident. WALHI National (Indonesian Forum for the Environment) stated that the Rempang issue is not merely a public order matter but a dispute over land and customary rights. Teo Reffelsen, a manager at WALHI National, urged the police to maintain neutrality, respect human rights, and refrain from facilitating land grabs or criminalizing residents. He emphasized that the police should not act as instruments to facilitate land dispossession or the seizure of community living spaces. Civic groups, including the Solidarity Team, are strongly calling for an end to the land acquisition of residents' properties. The Public Relations division of the Batam Police has yet to respond to Mongabay Indonesia's requests for comment. Large-scale development projects are underway on Rempang Island, leading to issues concerning resident relocation and land redistribution. The recent HPL sign installation has further amplified concerns about the impact of these developments on residents' livelihoods. Information Source: Mongabay Indonesia