Sitting in the case of a Kebumen resident-owned melon plantation hit by a TNI vehicle, the farmer is sincere

KOMPAS.com – A 14-second video showing an Indonesian army vehicle running over a melon plant belonging to a farmer, on the coast of Urut Sewu, Setrojenar Village, Buluspesantren district, Kebumen Regency, Central Java, went viral on social media.

The ground melon plants belonged to farmers named Mursidin (55) and Paryono (30). The incident occurred on Wednesday (8/26/2020) around 11.00 WIB.

“According to the information we received, the vandalism was carried out by one of the TNI units that was training shooting at the time,” said Secretary of the United Sewu Order, Widodo Sunu Nugroho, in a written statement on Friday (28 / 8/2020).

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Sunu said the melon plant that was hit by the TNI truck was known to be around 30 days old and began to bear fruit.

According to him, the damage is believed to have been approximately 0.2 hectares.

“On behalf of Urutsewu Bersatu (USB) and the Forum of the South Kebumen Farmers Association (FPPKS) we condemn the destruction of these plants and regret the government’s inaction in handling the conflict in Urutsewu,” he said.

Also read: For those who run over it is natural, I am honest, the risk of planting on the ground to practice shooting.

Setrojenar village chief Muslim Sidik said conditions at the site were not as shown on social media.

“The videos on social media are actually very different, which means that where TNI vehicles actually cross, it’s not as bad as the ones on social media,” Muslim said.

According to Muslim, the land belongs to the state.

“Until now, the legality of state lands is not a right of the community or of TNI,” he said.

Also read: Viral video of TNI vehicles crashing melon farmers in Kebumen

TNI explanation

Regarding the viral video, TNI also spoke out.

Kodam IV / Diponegoro’s chief information officer, Lt. Col. (kav) Susanto, emphasized that the news on social media saying that agricultural land was damaged due to passing TNI vehicles during training was not true.

“Some deviated and deliberately built a perception that the cannon firing exercise had hurt the peasants,” Susanto said.

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Sutanto said that the Urut Sewu area was not an agricultural area for the residents. The area, he continued, is an official area used for weapons training by the Indonesian Army.

In fact, Susanto continued, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning / BPN has issued the Land Ownership Certificate on behalf of the Indonesian Army for training purposes.

The certificate was delivered by ATR / BPN Minister Sofyan A Djalil to the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Andika Perkasa, in Makodam IV Diponegoro, on Wednesday (12/8/2020).

“On this basis, the public is expected to understand and not be provoked by misleading news that deliberately clashes with the people and the Army,” Susanto said in a written statement on Friday (8/28/2020).

Read Also: TNI’s Full Explanation of the Land Sewu in Kebumen

Susanto said residents were only given the opportunity to use the land when it was not being used for training.

This, he said, was a concern for TNI AD to help local residents.

“They have realized that the land does not belong to them and because of the kindness of the Army they are given the opportunity to cultivate it without sharing the results,” he explained.

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Still, Susanto said, the local residents have realized the use of the land. So when it is used for training, residents will stop their activities to avoid vulnerabilities.

According to Susanto, the residents who take advantage of the area have understood the agreement reached.

However, there are many parties that want to confuse them by pitting residents against the Indonesian army.

“If we follow the current procedure, it must be empty and not allowed by the community. However, due to our doctrine that we must be united with the people, we help the local residents by allowing them to work on the land when it is not used for training.” , said.

Also read: Recognition of melon growers affected by TNI training in Sort Sewu, Kebumen

Sincere farmers

Meanwhile, melon growers whose crops were damaged by being hit by a TNI vehicle during training said they were honest.

“For those who run over it comes naturally, I honestly do. The risk of planting in the land used for target practice,” said Nanang Eko Prasetyo.

Nanang said the relationship between farmers and TNI was going well.

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He also hopes that farmers can still plant on that land.

In addition, the activities of TNI members exercising in the area may also continue.

Meanwhile, another farmer named Paryono said that before the training began on Monday (8/24/2020), TNI had reported the activity.

“I have the permission, I don’t even know if the video is viral,” he said in a video when Setrojenar Village Chief Muslim Sidik clarified with the farmers on Friday (8/28/2020).

Also read: Facts about Melon Gardens owned by residents hit by TNI vehicles in Kebumen, suspected of land disputes

(Author: Banyumas Contributor, Fadlan Mukhtar Zain | Editor: Dony Aprian, Khairina)