{"id":6084,"date":"2021-01-29T19:25:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T12:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/?p=6084"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:25:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T12:25:52","slug":"politik-kehutanan-percepatan-arus-modal-ketimpangan-ruang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/politik-kehutanan-percepatan-arus-modal-ketimpangan-ruang\/","title":{"rendered":"Forestry Politics: Capital Flow Acceleration & Spatial Inequality"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Image\/illustration: https:\/\/acch.kpk.go.id\/id\/artikel\/amatan\/korupsi-dan-politik-yang-merusak-hutan<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

by, Uli Arta Siagian, Director of Genesis Foundation, Bengkulu<\/strong><\/p>\n

I. Bukit Barisan Forest in Ecological Narrative.<\/p>\n

The Sumatran forest that stretches along the Bukit Barisan mountains is an ecological infrastructure that ensures the sustainability of all living things. \u201cBackbone\u201d is the right term to describe the Bukit Barisan forest. Just like the backbone of the human body, the Sumatran backbone determines the upright or collapse of Sumatra. The Bukit Barisan Forest supports the body of Sumatra.<\/p>\n

The Bukit Barisan Forest is the source of water for all major rivers in Sumatra. The rivers that empty into the west coast (Hidia Ocean) and the east coast (the Strait of Malacca). Regulate water management, carbon cycle, protection from disaster vulnerability. Bukit Barisan Forest is also home to various types of fauna and flora.<\/p>\n

The Sumatran forest is also a site of knowledge and experience for the people who have always lived side by side with the forest. Knowledge and experience that is able to make them live in balance with nature. In particular, the relationship between women and the forest. Forests are the \u201chome\u201d of women’s knowledge and experiences. Until now, in many areas, the forest is still used as a gathering place by women. The results of the gathering can meet the subsistence needs of their families. Also knowledge of local plants that function as medicine. All this knowledge and experience grows together between women and the forest.<\/p>\n

This ecological narrative can turn into a disaster narrative if mismanaged. The paradigm of the wrong forest by placing it as the basis for material extraction to produce global commodities is the turning point of the mismanagement of the forest itself. This paradigm then becomes the praxis of the process of forest destruction. The accumulation of these processes results in what is called an ecological disaster.<\/p>\n

II. Capital-based Clearing of Forests<\/p>\n

Examining the process of depleting Indonesia’s forests in general and Sumatra’s forests in particular cannot be seen partially. This problem has a long dimension of time and consequences in each of its chapters.<\/p>\n

Van Vollenhoven (in Orang Indonesia and its Land; 1923) describes how agrarian conditions including forests during the colonial era, how the Domeinverklaring (domein statement) declared by the Dutch government in 1870 in Java and Madura stated that all land that other people could not show evidence of eigendom over land it means that the land is a state domain. This statement is contained in Article 1 of the Agrarian Law\/Agrarisch Besluit (Staatsblad 1870 No. 118). This resulted in all land belonging to the people with any rights except the eigendom right to belong to the state (landsdomein).<\/p>\n

In other words, the Dutch government which has a strong influence in Indonesia has the power to regulate the land domain (Landsdomein) and make it a commodity. The colonies opened many large-scale plantations (onderneming) and mining. The people of Indonesia are used as laborers in these plantations and mines.<\/p>\n

Then in the new order era, the investment door was wide open. Law Number 1 of 1967 concerning Foreign Investment, Law Number 5 of 1967 concerning Basic Provisions on Forestry and Law Number 11 of 1967 concerning Basic Mining Provisions and Law Number 6 of 1968 concerning Investment Domestically, a package of regulations for the exploitation of natural resources is issued by this authoritarian and militarized regime. In the name of development, exploitation turns into mastery. The conglomeration between sandalwood families and multinational businessmen strengthened.<\/p>\n

Between 1965 and 1997, it is estimated that around 40 million to 50 million ha of Indonesian forest were lost due to logging, mining, forest tenure rights, conversion to agricultural land, infrastructure development projects and transmigration.[1] This is the first phase in forest clearing through the Forest Concession Rights (HPH) scheme.<\/p>\n

The collapse of the new order regime, the enactment of the reform regime even today, exploitation of natural resources continues. The decentralization process is strongly influenced by local political conditions in the region. So the decentralization regime only replaces national political authoritarianism in making decisions (Policy Making) into local political authoritarians in making decisions. The existence of the people to decide whether to accept or reject the expansion of extractive industries in their living space is negated. Even if there are dynamics in the decision-making process, it will be filled with the interests of a few people, cronies of regional leaders, or the personal and family interests of the regional leaders.[2]<\/p>\n

The extraction regime in the form of HPH shifts to the mining regime and large-scale monoculture plantations, especially oil palm. The massive issuance of permits is not only on people’s living spaces, but also on Indonesian forests. Indiscriminate issuance of permits results in overlapping land-based permits in Indonesia.<\/p>\n

Currently, based on data published by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in March 2019, an area of \u200b\u200b32.7 million hectares of Indonesian forest has been granted permits. WALHI records reveal as many as 2115 corporate entities that occupy Indonesian forests. The fast pace of extractivism-based capital investment is perpetuated by regulations and policies produced by the state. Starting from sectoral laws on Forestry, Plantations, Mining along with their derivative regulations, such as Presidential Instructions, Ministerial Regulations, Government Regulations and Regional Regulations.<\/p>\n

In addition to forestry regulations that legally provide a red carpet for investors, such as borrow-to-use area permits for mining, partial forest release, HPH and HTI permits, spatial planning revisions are also a momentum to whiten forest violations that occur.<\/p>\n

In 2012, when almost all regions in Indonesia underwent spatial planning revisions, nationally an area of \u200b\u200b3 million hectares of forest that had been converted into oil palm plantations without a permit was released through a spatial revision.[3] The Government issues Government Regulation Number 60 of 2012 concerning Amendments to Government Regulation Number 10 of 2010 concerning Procedures for Changes to the Designation and Function of Forest Areas and Government Regulation Number 61 of 2012 concerning Amendments to Government Regulation Number 24 of 2010 concerning Use of Forest Areas, as a form of \u201c late settlement”. This practice has become a means of ending the forest for capital-based extractive activities.<\/p>\n

Indonesia’s forest development policies in the next twenty-five years still cannot release the forest paradigm as the basis for extraction of materials to produce global commodities. This is reflected in the roadmap for Indonesia’s forest development until 2045, which is oriented towards controlling the world market. There is no new way of looking at the state’s forest. Seeing the forest as a commodity will deplete the forest in the not-too-distant future.[4]<\/p>\n

III. Bengkulu Forestry Politics: Who Needs it? Who Benefited?<\/p>\n

In general, it has been explained above how the clear-cutting of Indonesia’s forests is based on capital. Where the forest as an ecological infrastructure is positioned as nothing more than a commodity that deserves to be exploited.<\/p>\n

This section will explain how the politics of forestry in Bengkulu is. Specifically, it examines how corporations ride a forest revision policy, so that it will increase the gap in spatial control between the people and corporations and accelerate the decline in ecological quality as a result.<\/p>\n

Bengkulu forest reaches 46% of the total land area of \u200b\u200bBengkulu province. 924 thousand hectares of the 1.9 million hectares of Bengkulu province are forest areas. The forest area extends in the southern part of Bukit Barisan from Lampung to West Sumatra. Based on function, Bengkulu forest area classification: Forest with conservation function; Nature Reserve, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan covering an area of \u200b\u200b462,965 hectares. Forests with protected functions are 250,750 hectares, limited production forests are 173,280 hectares, permanent production forests are 25,873 hectares and convertible production forests are 11,763 hectares.<\/p>\n

Bengkulu forest has gone through three extraction regimes, the first is the timber logging regime through HPH permits in the 70s to 90s. Second, the plantation regime since the 90s until now. Third, the massive mineral and coal mining regime since the 200s until now. The pattern of forest tenure in Bengkulu is the same as that of national forest tenure. Perpetuated through regulations as well as policies.<\/p>\n

The process of controlling and destroying Bengkulu’s forests is currently taking advantage of the moment of spatial planning revision. Regional heads at the district and provincial levels did not miss this strategic moment. Especially the investors who want Bengkulu forest area.<\/p>\n

The Governor of Bengkulu proposed that 53,000 Bengkulu forest areas be released. The governor and regents from each of the proposing regions have also carried out an “expose the Bengkulu Governor in the Context of Proposals for Changes in the Designation and Functions of Forest Areas in the Revised RTRW of Bengkulu Province” at Manggala Wanabakti on August 20, 2019.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No<\/strong><\/td>\nCounty\/City<\/strong><\/td>\n  Proposed Area (ha)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nKota Bengkulu<\/td>\n588,88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nMukomuko<\/td>\n12.416,58<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nNorth Bengkulu<\/td>\n22.671,00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nCentral Bengkulu<\/td>\n5.267,00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nRejang Lebong<\/td>\n1.625,40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nKepahiang<\/td>\n1.504,05<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nLebong<\/td>\n1.495,27<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nSeluma<\/td>\n4.644,50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nSouth Bengkulu<\/td>\n61,00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nKaur<\/td>\n2.764,00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAmount<\/strong><\/td>\n53.037,68<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Corporations that will benefit from the Forest Release Process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The process of releasing forests through this revision of the spatial plan is full of corporate interests. An area of \u200b\u200b21,412 ha or 40% of the proposed area overlaps with Mining Business Permits (IUP) and Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) for oil palm plantations. In addition, an area of \u200b\u200b15,000 hectares or 28% of the proposed forest area had previously been granted a mining business permit.[5]<\/p>\n

Through this proposal, there are at least nine companies that will benefit directly. 5 oil palm plantation companies, namely (1) PT. Agromuko, total area of \u200b\u200b1884 hectares; (2) PT. Alno Agro Utama, a total area of \u200b\u200b468 hectares; (3) PT. Sandhabi Indah Lestari, total area of \u200b\u200b600 hectares; (4) PT. Daria Dharma Pratama; and (5) PT. Mitra Puding Mas, a total area of \u200b\u200b121 hectares.<\/p>\n

Four mining companies, namely (1) PT. Inmas Abadi has a total area of \u200b\u200b2650 hectares; (2) PT. Bumi Arya Syam and Shah with a total area of \u200b\u200b2846 hectares; (3) PT. Ratu Samban Mining with an area of \u200b\u200b663 hectares; and (4) PT. Main Kingdom Kusuma.<\/p>\n

In addition to the companies that will benefit directly from the forest revision process, there are three coal mining companies that will indirectly benefit. The three companies are (1) PT. Bara Mega Quantum; (2) PT. Queen of Samban Mining; and (3) PT. Bara Indah Lestari.<\/p>\n

Proposal for Release to Support People’s Needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The narrative of Bengkulu’s forest release was built so popularly by the government. The people’s need for forest areas as their living space becomes the legitimacy why the release of Bengkulu’s forests is very important and must be executed immediately. In fact, no more than 40% of the proposed areas accommodate the needs of the people. Even in some areas where forest areas are proposed, the community is not aware of any proposed forest release.<\/p>\n

The scenario is simple, for example the proposed release in four enclave villages in Seluma district. People’s cultivation and the acceleration of the development of the villages of Lubuk Resam, Sekalak, Sinar Pagi and Talang Empat, were used as reasons for releasing an area of \u200b\u200b3375 hectares of the Bukit Badas Limited Production Forest (HPT). Whereas the four village areas and the Bukit Badas forest area have been plotted by a coal mining permit, namely: PT. Ratu Samban Mining, IUP PT. Bara Indah Lestari, PT. Bumi Arya Syam and Shah Resources.<\/p>\n

Likewise in North Bengkulu district, to release TWA Seblat and HPT Lebong Kandis, the government used transmigration settlements in the Air Kuro area as legitimacy for releasing this area. But in fact the transmigration settlement has been burdened by a mining business permit (IUP) with a production operation stage owned by PT. Eternal Inmas.<\/p>\n

In Central Bengkulu also the same thing happened, the reason for releasing the Buru Park (TB) Semidang Bukit Kabu area was the existence of settlements and community land that had been passed down for generations (Kota Niur village, Pagar Gunung and Pagar Siring), in fact the area above has operating a coal mine, PT. Kusuma Raya Utama underground.<\/p>\n

After the forest areas are released, there will be a power vacuum in the area. The people, de jure, do not have rights to the area, while the company has a business permit for the area. The state only moved the conflict, initially the people were in conflict with the state because their living space was designated as a state forest area, then after being enclaved, the people came into conflict with the company. In fact, conflicts between the people and corporations tend to be more dangerous, because the possibility of land grabbing, criminalization and horizontal conflicts will very likely occur.<\/p>\n

Forest Release and Political Costs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from these companies, the actors who will benefit from this forest release process are the regional heads, both the regent and the Bengkulu governor. This moment of forest area revision through spatial planning will certainly not be missed by regional elites, especially in the years leading up to political contestation as it is today.<\/p>\n

2020 provincial-level regional head elections will take place, including in several districts. If you look at the table of proposing regions above, the largest proposing district is the district that will hold regional head elections in 2020. The districts are Mukomuko, North Bengkulu and Seluma. So it is not an exaggeration if the release of the forest is suspected of being bonded labor for political costs.<\/p>\n

Because the high cost of Indonesian politics has become an open secret. Research and development studies at the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that to become a regent\/mayor it would cost around 20-30 billion, while to become a governor it was around 20-100 billion. The amount of political costs is not balanced with the financial capabilities of the candidates for regional heads.[6]<\/p>\n

It is at this point that the \u201cno free lunch\u201d ideology applies. This situation makes it clear that the practice of forest tenure and the acceleration of capital expansion cannot be separated from political matters.<\/p>\n

Ecological Narrative Turns Into Ecological Disaster Narrative.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The acceleration of capital in the form of extractive industries and the acceleration of the decline in the function of natural services is a necessity. Floods and landslides when it rains, as well as drought during the dry season are logical consequences of the loss of forest cover in Bengkulu.<\/p>\n

The ecological flood disaster on April 27, 2019, which hit almost all areas in Bengkulu province, is an undeniable sign of the decline in the ecological function of forests as regulators of water management.<\/p>\n

The ongoing forest clearance also overrides ecological safety and disaster preparedness. Some areas become upstream watersheds (DAS). In addition, it is also a corridor and habitat for key animals of the Sumatran tiger and Sumatran elephant. So if the area is released, the costal conflict between animals and the community will continue to increase.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Down To Earth; May 2008 can be accessed at http:\/\/www.downtoearth-indonesia.org\/id\/story\/warisan-suharto<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Politik Lokal Dalam Perspektif State Society Relation<\/em>:Pemekaran Daerah , Pilkada, dan \u201cpergeseran relasi\u201d Antar Elit; Jurnal Desentralisasi Volume 8 No.5, 2010<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Dokumen PUBLIC REVIEW TERHADAP PERATURAN PEMERINTAH TENTANG KAWASAN HUTAN (PP 60\/2012 dan PP 61\/2012)<\/em>; oleh ICW.<\/em><\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Dokumen Draf Masterplan Redesign Pembangunan Hutan Indonesia Oleh Bappenas.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Hasil analisis Genesis Bengkulu yang dipublikasikan melalui Lembar Fakta 12 Perusahaan Menunggangi Revisi Kawasan Hutan Bengkulu;2019.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Kajian KPK \u201cLaporan Studi Potensi Benturan Kepentingan Dalam Pendanaan Pilkada; Pilkada Serentak 2015\u201d<\/p>\n

Sumber: https:\/\/ulisiagian.wordpress.com\/2020\/11\/09\/politik-kehutanan-percepatan-arus-modal-dan-ketimpangan-ruang\/<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by, Uli Arta Siagian, Director of Genesis Foundation, Bengkulu I. Bukit Barisan Forest in Ecological Narrative. The Sumatran forest that stretches along the Bukit Barisan mountains is an ecological infrastructure that ensures the sustainability of all living things. \u201cBackbone\u201d is the right term to describe the Bukit Barisan forest. Just like the backbone of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1989,1987,2026,2029,2032],"tags":[2035,2038,2041,2044,2047,2050],"class_list":["post-6084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advocacy","category-climate-adaptation","category-konservasi-das","category-lingkungan","category-sda","tag-artikel-opini","tag-arus-modal","tag-hutan","tag-ketimpangan","tag-masyarakat","tag-politik"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6084"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6122,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6084\/revisions\/6122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitra.or.id\/2012\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}