Chinese Indonesian to take land ownership case to court

YOGYAKARTA: The stubborn determination of Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono to uphold the province’s discriminatory land ownership regulation and the failure of other Chinese-Indonesians to end the injustice in court has not stopped Ziput Lokasari from trying her luck.

Ziput, who is of Chinese descent, intends to sue the governor of the special region in an attempt to force the Sultan to change his mind.

In May 2014, the governor issued a letter reaffirming the 1975 provincial administration decision on the prohibition on non-indigenous Indonesians holding land ownership certificates.

The central government has preferred to say nothing about the controversial policy.

With its status as a special region, the local government has privileges that are not enjoyed by other provinces. The Sultanate also still owns large parts of the province despite strong protests from people.

The National Commission on Human Rights has previously issued two recommendations to the governor to revoke the regulation.

“I urge the governor to obey the recommendations. Otherwise, we will bring the case to court,” Ziput said on Thursday.

Ziput, who came to the governor’s office together with two activists from the Anti-Discrimination Movement, said the instruction violated the Constitution, which guarantees equal rights and obligations for all Indonesian citizens regardless of their background. She also cited other laws such as racial and ethnic discrimination and human rights protection.

Being of Chinese descent, Ziput cannot hold an ownership certificate for the 2,000 sq m plot of land she bought in Kulon Progo in 2015.