Indonesian Ombudsman Urges National Priority for Village Boundary Determination
Indonesian Ombudsman Calls for National Focus on Village Boundary Disputes
Jakarta – The Indonesian Ombudsman is urging the government to prioritize resolving ongoing disputes over village boundaries, calling for a national effort to clarify these crucial demarcations.
Ombudsman member Dadan S. suharmawijaya emphasized the need to elevate village boundary determination and affirmation to a national priority, integrating it into national and regional development plans. he specifically called on the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to champion this initiative.
“Let’s make the determination and affirmation of village and sub-district boundaries a national priority in the national medium-term development plan, regional medium-term development plan, and regional government work plan,” Suharmawijaya stated.
The Ombudsman highlighted the significant impact clear village boundaries have on various aspects of governance and development.
“Progress in determining village boundaries would have a significant impact on population management, village development, business licensing, and land administration,” Suharmawijaya explained.
Conversely, he warned that unclear boundaries can lead to disputes over resources and hinder the issuance of business licenses.
To address this pressing issue, the Ombudsman recommended a multi-pronged approach. This includes evaluating existing progress, compiling thorough data, and setting clear deadlines for achieving the goal of fully determining and affirming village and sub-district boundaries nationwide.
Suharmawijaya also suggested leveraging Presidential Regulation Number 23 of 2021, which focuses on accelerating the implementation of the One Map Policy, a crucial tool for resolving boundary disputes.
Despite the urgency, progress has been slow.As of November 2024, only 7.7 percent of Indonesian villages had their boundaries officially determined and affirmed. This translates to just 5,804 villages out of a target of 75,526.
Alarmingly, eight provinces lag substantially behind, with less than 50 percent of their villages having clearly defined boundaries.The Ombudsman’s call for action underscores the critical need for a concerted national effort to resolve these boundary disputes and ensure the smooth functioning of governance and development initiatives across Indonesia.
Village Boundary disputes: A National Priority for Indonesia?
NewsDirectory3.com sat down with Dadan S. Suharmawijaya, a member of the Indonesian Ombudsman, to discuss the pressing issue of unresolved village boundary disputes and the Ombudsman’s call for a national focus on resolving them.
ND3: Mr. Suharmawijaya, why is the Indonesian Ombudsman calling for village boundary clarity to be elevated to a national priority?
S. Suharmawijaya: We believe clear village boundaries are essential for good governance and effective development. They impact population management, village development, business licensing, and land administration. Unclear boundaries lead to disputes over resources and hinder economic progress.
ND3: What are some of the specific challenges posed by these disputes?
S. Suharmawijaya: Disagreements over boundaries can escalate into conflicts, delaying vital development projects and hindering access to basic services.
Businesses face difficulties obtaining licenses due to unclear land ownership, further hampering economic growth.
ND3: What concrete steps does the Ombudsman propose to address this issue?
S. Suharmawijaya: We recommend a multi-faceted approach. Frist, evaluate the existing progress and collect complete data on village boundaries. Second, establish clear deadlines for achieving nationwide boundary determination.leverage existing tools like Presidential Regulation Number 23 of 2021, wich promotes the One Map Policy, to effectively resolve these disputes.
ND3: What is the current status of village boundary determination in Indonesia?
S.Suharmawijaya: Progress has been disappointingly slow. As of November 2024,only 7.7% of Indonesian villages have officially persistent and affirmed boundaries. This translates to a mere 5,804 villages out of a target of 75,526. Eight provinces lag substantially, with less than 50% of their villages having clearly defined boundaries.
ND3: What message does the Ombudsman have for the Indonesian government on this issue?
S. Suharmawijaya: the time for decisive action is now. Village boundary disputes are a major obstacle to progress. We urge the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to embrace this challenge and lead a national effort to achieve clarity on village boundaries. This should be incorporated into national and regional development plans, ensuring that resources are allocated and progress is monitored effectively.
ND3: Thank you for your insights, Mr. suharmawijaya. We hope your call for action will be heard and that Indonesia can overcome this crucial challenge.