150 Years of Shackles on Land Rights
Precisely 150 years ago, the Dutch government adopted the concept of domein verklaring (domain statement) to claim control of most of the land in the archipelago.
Greenpeace investigation uncovers massive deforestation as Indonesian Government minister arrives in EU to defend palm oil industry. In the picture: landcover, forest clearance and plantation development in PT Megakarya Jaya Raya (PT MJR) palm oil concession.
Precisely 150 years ago, the Dutch government adopted the concept of domein verklaring (domain statement) to claim control of most of the land in the archipelago.
This concept is still alive in the modern era of Indonesia and has led to widespread land conflicts and poverty. In 1870, the Dutch government adopted the Agrarische Wet (Agrarian Law). This law contains provisions that continue to be remembered in history as the principle of domein verklaring: that all land that does not have proof of ownership is considered the domain of the state.