Ombudsman RI highlights rising agrarian conflicts in Indonesia

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI) has emphasized that agrarian reform must go beyond land redistribution and certificate issuance to ensure legal certainty, equitable conflict resolution, and reduced land inequality. During a public discussion in Jakarta, Ombudsman member Robert Na Endi Jaweng stated that success should be measured by the actual welfare improvements of affected farmers and citizens.

The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) reported a significant increase in agrarian conflicts, rising from 207 cases in 2021 to 341 cases in 2025. Structural issues remain, with 61.3 percent of Indonesian farmers classified as smallholders owning less than 0.5 hectares of land. Discrepancies in data regarding priority reform locations also persist, with the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN) noting 26 locations while the KPA identifies 865.

Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN Ossy Dermawan noted that the complexity of agrarian reform necessitates the new Agrarian Reform Regulation Law and the establishment of the National Agrarian Reform Agency (BRAN). While the Ministry has redistributed over 6.1 million land plots in the last two years, challenges remain regarding land availability, legal status, and the verification of reform subjects.