Conflict on the Land of Agriculture: Structural Land Disputes in Plantation Areas of Central Java

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: trie002@brin.go.id

Abstract

Indonesia's agrarian structure remains shaped by its colonial legacy, particularly in the plantation sector, where large-scale land concessions (Hak Guna Usaha, HGU) often overlap with community and customary lands. These persistent disputes reveal the shortcomings of agrarian reform in addressing historical injustices and weak land governance. This study examines two plantation-based conflicts involving PTPN IX in Kendal and Sragen, Central Java, where farmers—despite long-term cultivation—face limited legal recognition. In Kendal, the unenforced Supreme Court ruling has prolonged uncertainty, while in Sragen, farmers' attempts to reclaim post-HGU expiry land triggered state-backed repression. Using resource conflict theory and distributive-procedural justice frameworks, the study finds that the main drivers of conflict are misaligned state-community land claims, the rigidity of legal formalism, and the absence of effective conflict-resolution mechanisms. The main result shows that legal victories do not translate into material justice when governance institutions fail to implement decisions, resulting in continued dispossession, insecurity, and weakened rural livelihoods. The paper recommends strengthening agrarian governance through: (1) accelerated and inclusive agrarian reform prioritizing historical land claims; (2) partial release of HGU land and fair partnership schemes; (3) a task force to review unproductive or overlapping HGUs; (4) institutionalizing participatory mediation; and (5) enhanced legal protection to end criminalization of farmers. These measures are essential to reduce conflict, safeguard food security, and support sustainable rural welfare.