KDMP Development Plan Sparks Communal Land Conflict in Adonara
A bloody clash broke out on Adonara Island, East Flores Regency, NTT, on Saturday (7/18/2026) due to a dispute over customary land boundaries. The conflict, involving Narasaosina Village and Bele Hamlet, Waiburak Village, left three residents dead, five injured, and 20 houses burned down.
The Deputy Commander of Battalion B Pioneer of the NTT Police Mobile Brigade and the Vice Chair of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives confirmed that the root of the clash is a dispute over the claim for the construction site of the Village Red and White Cooperative (KDMP). Waiburak Village, the location of the planned construction, sits on Lewonara customary land belonging to Narasaosina Village, which according to the customary owners was granted only as a place to live, not to be bought and sold. The certificate issued in the name of a Waiburak villager became the basis for the transaction, triggering dual claims and physical conflict.
Legally, the Basic Agrarian Law recognizes customary rights, but also opens a loophole for acquisition for national interests that is open to multiple interpretations. This case highlights the land administration mess and the failure to protect residents' constitutional rights. From an Islamic perspective, land ownership must be transparent; unowned land can be revived, and taking property without the owner's willingness is prohibited, as exemplified by the Prophet ﷺ and Caliph Umar bin Khattab who emphasized respect for individual rights. The real solution is seen to lie in implementing a system that protects customary rights and agrarian justice.
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