On 20 October 2022, the East Nusa Tenggara provincial government evicted the residents of 19 Pabubu Basipae indigenous community houses in Linamutu village, South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (Nusa Tenggara Timur – NTT). The area in question is known as the Basipae area. This eviction was carried out based on the East Nusa Tenggara provincial government letter from 14 October 2022, Letter No. BU.030/690/BPAD/2022 concerning the Eviction of Houses and Land Owned by the NTT Provincial Government: BU.030/690/BPAD/2022 concerning the Vacation of Houses and Land Owned by the NTT Provincial Government.
The Head of Assets, accompanied by POL PP, BRIMOB and policed from POLRES Kab. TTS led the eviction. The 19 houses that were demolished included 12 that the NTT Provincial Government had built for the community as compensation for evictions in 2020. Meanwhile, seven other houses were built by the local community. The provincial government argued that the houses were demolished because they belonged to them, while the other seven houses were illegally built on the government’s land.
A member of the community, Daud Selan said the reason for the demolition was that a road to the forest and a cage for cattle farming would be built on the land. He said, “So they (the NTT Provincial Government) built a house, gave it to the community, then came to dismantle it.” As a result of the demolition, currently, 23 families are homeless, comprising 86 adults and 46 children. They are forced to take shelter and live under trees. The situation worsens even more because the rainy season is starting.
History of the expropriation of the Basipae forest area
The NTT Provincial Government started the evictions in 2020. The government claims ownership of the 3,700 Ha Pubabu Forest as the provincial government’s land assets, which will be used for livestock development plans through Hak Use certificate number: 00001/2013-BP,794953. At the same time, the forest is a customary one belonging to the Besipae Pubabu indigenous people for generations. It has been used as plantation land and limited settlements by the local community.
When traced further, this conflict began in 1982, when the NTT Provincial Government entered the Besipae area by entering into a cooperation agreement with the Pubabu-Besipae indigenous community to implement the Livestock Intensification Pilot Project. The cooperation project between the NTT Provincial Government and the Australian Government in the Cattle Breeding Pilot program was carried out between 1982-1987. However, the project did not go well.
Unfortunately, in 1987, after the Livestock Intensification Program ended, the Forestry Service, without the community’s consent, implemented the National Forest Rehabilitation Movement (Gerhan) program in Amanuban Selatan Sub-district. In 1995, the Forestry Service issued a forestry land register with number 29, which included the Pubabu-Besipae forest area in the state forest area with a protected forest function of around 2,900 hectares. During the Gerhan program, between 2003 and 2008, the Forestry Service of South-Central Timor reportedly cleared and burned approximately 1,050 hectares of Pubabu-Besipae customary forest, resulting in deforestation. The area was used as a cultivation area for commodity crops, such as teak and mahogany, with a business use right (HGU) scheme from 1988 to 2008.
Clearing natural forests have resulted in drying up wells that have been the community’s water source around the forest area. So in 2008, the indigenous community rejected the extension of the HGU of the Gerhan program. However, the provincial government refused to listen to the community. In October 2012, the government and authorities criminalised and detained 17 indigenous people. Four of them were women who were later released due to insufficient evidence. Apart from the women, there were also two minors. One community member was detained for two months, and ten others for four months.
Since 2011 Komnas HAM has issued several letters emphasising the need to find solutions to the problems of the Basipae indigenous people. In 2012, Komnas HAM gave letter number 2.720/K/PMT/XI/2012 regarding the forest issue of the Pubabu-Besipae indigenous community. Through this Letter, Komnas HAM emphasised the importance of returning the agricultural land borrowed by the Livestock Service Office of NTT Province, which ended in 2012, to the community. Komnas HAM also emphasised the need to evaluate the NTT Provincial UPTD and the Livestock Service Office Program, which instead of developing the community, burdened the community.
However, Komnas HAM’s letters were ignored. In 2013, the government issued a Right to Use Certificate Number 00001/2013-BP.794953 with an area of 3,780 hectares as the basis for the Government’s claim to ownership of the Pubabu customary forest. It triggered the conflict. In October 2017, the conflict escalated because the NTT Provincial Government intimidated the Pubabu indigenous community. At that time, the NTT Provincial Livestock Service and the Civil Service Police came to the community and demanded that the Pubabu Adat community immediately vacate the land. The reason was that the land belonged to the NTT Provincial Government based on a Right to Use Certificate issued in 2013.
On 18 August 2020, the NTT Provincial Government evicted the houses of the Pabubu Basipae indigenous community. Twenty-nine families were forced to live in the open forest (see photo, source AMAN). This incident traumatised Besipae’s children and indigenous women; however, the NTT Provincial Government insisted that what the police did was a “shock effect” while emphasising that the 3,700 hectares of land would be used as livestock, plantations, and tourism for the benefit of indigenous peoples. The government later provided 12 houses to the residents but on 20 October 2022, they were again evicted from these and seven other houses built by the community and all 19 houses were demolished. The residents were not given any housing options, they must live in the open forest.
Detailed Case Data
Location: Basipae area
Region: Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara, South Central Timor, South Amanuban
Total number of victims: 63
#
Number of Victims
Name, Details
Gender
Age
Group Affiliation
Violations
1.
1
Simon p sae.
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
2.
1
Ferdi sae
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
3.
1
Marselina selan
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
4.
1
Yuliana Lette.p
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
5.
1
Dian rut kay
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
6.
1
jonh Manisa
male
unknown
cultural rights, right to food, housing
7.
1
Yohana Liufeto
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
8.
1
Maryanto manisa
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
9.
1
Demetrius Manisa
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
10.
1
Soni Baunsele
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
11.
1
Gefario Manisa
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
12.
1
kornalius Nomleni
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
13.
1
Yohana Bait
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
14.
1
Amos Nomleni
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
15.
1
Debora Nomleni
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
16.
1
Alfin Nomleni
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
17.
1
Minggus Nomleni
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
18.
1
Rian Nomleni
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
19.
1
Derlin Nomleni
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
20.
1
kolodikson sole
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
21.
1
Maria sae
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
22.
1
Olifia sole
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
23.
1
Nurce Sae
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
24.
1
Musafir Selan
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
25.
1
Afliana Neolaka
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
26.
1
Orance Neolaka
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
27.
1
Lasarus Tamonob
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
28.
1
Demaris Tefa
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
29.
1
Ofret Tamonob
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
30.
1
Deni Tamonon
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
31.
1
Adi Tamonob
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
32.
1
Dorce Tamonob
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
33.
1
Riki Tamonob
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
34.
1
Frans Sae
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
35.
1
Yanti Nuban
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
36.
1
Frengki Sae
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
37.
1
Derfen Sae
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
38.
1
Intan Sae
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
39.
1
Juandri sae
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
40.
1
Nikodemus Manao
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
41.
1
Anida F. Manisa
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
42.
1
Jumita Manao
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
43.
1
Rehan Manao
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
44.
1
Emi Manao
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
45.
1
Marten Taunu
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
46.
1
Imelda Tce
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
47.
1
Reli Taunu
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
48.
1
Ririn Taunu
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
49.
1
Rilan Taunu
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
50.
1
Kornelis Lette
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
51.
1
Sofia Sae
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
52.
1
Abraham Lette
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
53.
1
Jeni Lette
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
54.
1
Yunus Selan
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
55.
1
Yance Tobe
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
56.
1
Feralipo Selan
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
57.
1
Ulang jonatan Selan
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
58.
1
Amelia Manao
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
59.
1
Garsi Tanu
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
60.
1
Selfiana Tanu
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
61.
1
Stefanus Leo
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
62.
1
Selfina Lakseu
female
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
63.
1
Misto Leo
male
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
64.
dozens
unknown
unknown
unknown
Indigenous Peoples
cultural rights, right to food, housing
Perpetrator: Government
Perpetrator details: East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial Government
Issues: indigenous peoples, business, human rights and FPICSources:
https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20221023053324-20-864123/pemprov-ntt-bongkar-19-rumah-besipae-diduga-untuk-jalan-ternak-sapi
https://betahita.id/news/lipsus/5563/konflik-panjang-masyarakat-adat-pubabu-besipae-dan-pemerintah-ntt.html?v=1599293097
https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-53839101
AMAN Media Info