Coalition Demands Review of Mandalika Project Amid Land Disputes

A coalition of community organizations has called on President Prabowo Subianto to reassess the Special Economic Zone (KEK) Mandalika project. They cite agrarian conflicts and displacement of local residents as key concerns stemming from the project’s development.

Allegations of Land Grabs and Displacement

Dewi Kartika, Secretary General of the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), stated that the project has led to significant land loss and the displacement of local communities. She pointed out the detrimental effects on both fishermen and local traders.

According to Dewi, the project, which began in 2011 with land acquisition starting in 2019, has allegedly caused extensive losses. Communities have been stripped of their land, and fishermen have lost their sources of income.

Recently, residents of Tanjung Aan, West Nusa Tenggara, received a letter from a company called Vanguard. The company claimed to represent an investor working with the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).

Threatened Evictions in Tanjung Aan

The letter notified residents of a 14-day grace period for land clearance. The deadline for the clearance was June 28, 2025. This action threatens 186 stalls, cafes, and restaurants owned by local residents along the Tanjung Aan coast.

Dewi warned that over 1,000 people relying on the area for their livelihoods would be displaced. She stated that clearing the coastal area of Tanjung Aan would eliminate the income source for thousands of residents.

Criticism of Land Acquisition Process

In March 2025, the Central Lombok Land Office issued at least 12 utilization rights certificates (HPL) to ITDC. Dewi criticized the process, saying it lacked genuine consultation, transparency, and participation from ITDC and the local government.

“Especially the consent of residents for the project execution, from the development plan, land procurement, compensation, to the recent eviction efforts in Tanjung Aan through Vanguard,”

—Dewi Kartika, Secretary General of the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA)

The coalition views the evictions as part of a wider trend in SEZ projects labeled under National Strategic Projects. They allege these projects often involve manipulation, forced evictions, land grabbing, intimidation, and acts of terror against affected communities.

KPA documented 154 agrarian conflict cases between 2020 and 2024, covering 1,004,803 hectares and affecting 103,685 households across Indonesia. A 2024 report found that in the past year alone, land conflicts across Indonesia affected almost 700,000 people, showing a 20% rise from the previous year (Land Conflict Report 2024).

Demands for Action

The coalition has condemned PT ITDC’s actions in Tanjung Aan and urged the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN RI) to reassess the issuance of all HPL certificates granted to ITDC.

The coalition further requested relevant ministries, agencies, and PT ITDC to ensure meaningful participation. They emphasized upholding residents’ constitutional rights and land tenure.

The coalition comprises 23 community organizations, including KPA, AMAN, WALHI, and KASBI.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and State-Owned Enterprises Ministry spokesperson Putri Violla were contacted for comment, but no responses were received.