Indonesia advances Agrarian Reform Bill through DPR

The Indonesian government has officially submitted the Problem Inventory List (DIM) for the Agrarian Reform Bill to the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI). During a working meeting in Jakarta, Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej emphasized that the bill is a collective effort to achieve justice in land ownership, use, and utilization, while seeking solutions to ongoing agrarian issues.

Following the submission, Baleg Chairman Bob Hasan indicated that the next step involves finalizing the schedule for Level I discussion meetings to begin substantive deliberations.

The proposed legislation, which was initiated by the DPR, aims to reduce land ownership inequality, facilitate redistribution, resolve conflicts, and protect indigenous communities and vulnerable groups. A key component of the bill is the potential establishment of the National Agrarian Reform Agency (BRAN). This agency would report directly to the President and serve as the primary coordinator for national agrarian reform, with authority over land redistribution and legal rights. However, experts from the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) have noted the need for clear functional boundaries to prevent overlapping authority with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN).