Komnas Perempuan Statement Urging the Halt of Mandalika Evictions

“Komnas Perempuan Highlights Human Rights Violations by State and Non-State Actors”

Jakarta, July 14, 2025

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) expresses serious concern over recent developments in the Tanjung Aan area, Pujut Subdistrict, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. On July 11, 2025, residents received their third Warning Letter (SP), delivered by Vanguard, a private security company, together with personnel from the Village Security Agency (BKD) and local police. The letter stated that residents had only three days, until July 15, 2025, to dismantle their stalls themselves, before forced demolition by authorities.

The initial concept of developing the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was intended for environmentally sustainable development that could boost the local economy. The program was expected to create employment, increase community income, and develop MSMEs while ensuring active and meaningful participation of local communities in the development of the Mandalika SEZ.

In complaints received by Komnas Perempuan on May 23, 2025, and updated on June 16 and June 19, 2025, several fundamental issues were noted regarding the implementation of the Mandalika SEZ development program, which seriously affect the rights of women and local communities, as follows:

1. Failure to fulfill initial commitments by PT Pariwisata Indonesia (PT ITDC), the project implementer of Mandalika SEZ:

   • Promised residential houses of 100 m² per household were only realized as duplex houses for two families.

   • Basic infrastructure such as clean water, electricity, health services, schools, and market access in the relocation area was unavailable.

   • Employment promises were not realized; residents, especially women dependent on micro-enterprises, lost their livelihoods.

2. Reduction of living space and livelihoods, with significant impacts on women:

   • Loss of stalls as the main source of women’s income and restricted access to the sea, agricultural land, and livestock areas.

   • Restricted access to coastal areas, including sites for cultural traditions such as the Nyale Festival, due to physical project developments.

   • Forced demolitions or threats thereof, without dialogue or fair compensation.

   • Relocation to remote areas (e.g., Bukit Silla) without access to clean water, education, health services, or economic opportunities, increasing women’s domestic workload.

3. Environmental damage directly affecting residents’ quality of life:

   • Clean water crisis in relocation areas due to damaged natural springs and channels, forcing residents to purchase water for basic needs.

   • Coastal and marine ecosystem destruction due to reclamation, dock construction, and resort projects, undermining livelihoods of fishers and coastal women.

   • Loss of local vegetation and productive land without transparent and participatory environmental assessment.

   • Increased risk of ecological disasters such as flooding and drought due to changes in land use and loss of absorption areas.

4. Low legal literacy and limited Indonesian language proficiency among affected women:

   • Difficulty understanding eviction documents, administrative procedures, and accessing complaint channels or legal services.

5. Potential long-term impacts on vulnerable groups:

   • Increased child marriage (ages 13–15).

   • Early school dropout.

   • Children engaged in informal labor as scavengers or street vendors.

   • Forced migration of adult women due to loss of livelihoods.

6. Use of repressive security approaches, including involvement of Vanguard in land clearance without public oversight or guarantees of civilian protection, particularly for women.

This situation has compelled residents, especially women, to remain on their land, not merely as an act of resistance, but as the only option to preserve their lives, safe spaces, and dignity in the absence of state and project implementer remedies.

Based on these findings, Komnas Perempuan urges the Central and Regional Governments to immediately halt the planned eviction on July 15, 2025, and ensure the safety and protection of the basic rights of residents, especially women and children.

Furthermore, Komnas Perempuan recommends that all relevant parties follow up on the official recommendation letter issued by Komnas Perempuan on June 30, 2025, to various stakeholders, including:

• Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA)

• Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemen HAM)

• Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board (Kemenko Investasi)

• Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos)

• Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR)

• Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (Kemenko Perekonomian)

• Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)

• Regional House of Representatives of West Nusa Tenggara (DPRD NTB)

Recommendations include:

• Halting all forms of intimidation and forced evictions by state and non-state actors.

• Restoring the rights of affected women, including psychosocial services, economic assistance, and access to information.

• Administrative recognition of affected hamlets and meaningful involvement of women in public policy planning.

• Reviewing the roles of PT ITDC and Vanguard based on human rights accountability principles.

Komnas Perempuan emphasizes that forced eviction practices that disregard caution, accountability, participation, and protection of vulnerable groups violate the Indonesian Constitution and contradict ratified international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Contact: Elsa Faturahmah (081389371400)