Lepar Lau Tengah Farmers Group Fights for Land Rights in Deli Serdang

In Deli Serdang Regency, a farmers' group is fighting to free their territory from the control of Asia's largest funeral services company. In Sumatra, the company is the only international-standard, resort-style provider of memorial parks (cemeteries) for Buddhists, Christians, and Catholics. The Lepar Lau Tengah Farmers' Group (KTLLT) members cover two villages in Sibolangit District: Rambung Baru and Bingkawan.

The government granted the company a Building Use Rights Certificate (SHGB) for 75 hectares of community-owned land. The problem began in 2015 when the company approached the community through the GBKP church by giving cash to residents of Rambung Baru Village as Christmas gifts. In collaboration with the village, sub-district, and district governments, as well as the National Land Agency of North Sumatra Province, the company committed fraud and falsified community registration documents to appear to have legally sold their agricultural land to the company.

This land acquisition encroached on community land that had been the source of livelihood for 100 families, or 800 people. Their livelihoods, which depended on the land, were lost. From 2016 to 2018, the company began building a cemetery, destroying community agricultural land, leading to community demonstrations. This resulted in the criminalization of five community members.

Starting from this problem, the community in Rambung Baru Village and Bingkawan Village took the initiative to strengthen their movement by mapping Priority Locations for Agrarian Reform (LPRA), managing land productively, strengthening land occupation efforts by expanding land cultivation by building... frog meeting and frog kiosks as an implementation of the people's economy and education for youth.

The Lepar Lau Tengah Farmers Group began by implementing a consolidation specifically aimed at its youth members. As a result of this consolidation, they agreed to form a youth-focused KTLLT wing called Pemuda Lepar Lau Tengah, with 21 administrators and members. This was crucial for regenerating the leadership of the farmer organization. Not only was it formed, but this youth organization received education on genuine agrarian reform, facilitated by KPA, KSPPM, BITRA, and the KTLLT Management. This youth group is now also actively utilizing social media as a KTLLT campaign tool, publicizing KTLLT's actions.

Meanwhile, the KTLLT is also working to strengthen land management as a means of physical control. They consolidated map data by inviting community members to verify each map they produced based on the land they control. As a result, they now have a single, valid LPRA map based on existing land parcels, which serves as a crucial foundation for the KTLLT's data-driven efforts.

KTLLT also strives to strengthen the implementation of a people's economy as part of strengthening LPRA land management. They cultivate the land collectively using their local knowledge. They plant various types of medicinal plants such as ginger, turmeric, and galangal as raw materials for making traditional medicines. The products they process are then marketed through frog A kiosk located in Bingkawan Village. The kiosk's construction was carried out collaboratively by its members. Toad This kiosk sells products from its members. In addition to medicinal plants and herbal medicines, they also sell fruit such as snake fruit, guava, and bananas. The types sold here are: frog This depends on the harvest results of its members. The benefits of managing frog will be shared fairly with some of the profits going into group cash.

The series of programs above demonstrates KTLLT's commitment to collectively managing their land. Strengthening rights through LPRA mapping, forming youth groups, and implementing a people's economy have proven to strengthen their struggle. KTLLT has successfully resisted the company by involving all members, including youth. Furthermore, KTLLT has successfully brought the Rambung Baru Village Government together to oppose the company. establishing which is final, which was previously produced by the Lubuk Pakam court. Establishing This program was conducted to reconcile disputed land between the local community and PT Nirvana following the Supreme Court's decision in 2022. The involvement of the Village Government (Village Head and staff) represents a new learning experience and unprecedented impact. The program also impacted Rambung Baru Village, Bingkawan Village, Sayum Sabah Village, Buah Nabar Village, and Bintang Meriah Village, totaling 2874 hectares.