Pari Island women plant mangroves to defend homes against developer claim

JAKARTA, 23 AUGUST 2026 —

Pari Island, a 43‑hectare speck in Jakarta’s Thousand Islands regency, has become the focus of a decade‑long land dispute that pits local residents against PT Bumi Pari Asri, a private developer that claims ownership of roughly 90 % of the island. The conflict has drawn attention from civil‑society groups and the Indonesian Ombudsman, and has raised questions about the legality of land certificates issued to the company.

The company says all certificates were obtained legally from the North Jakarta National Land Agency. “We support the activities undertaken by the women’s groups, especially those related to the environment. However, they shouldn’t be carried out illegally. At the very least, as the owners, we should be informed,” said Slamet Huzaini, field supervisor of PT Bumi Pari Asri, to CNA.

He added that the mangroves planted by the women are in the marine area, which does not belong to the company.

The dispute began to intensify in 2017 when three islanders who managed eco‑tourism operations were arrested on charges of extortion and illegal occupation of land belonging to PT Bumi Pari Asri. The Jakarta High Court overturned the convictions in 2018, ruling that no crime had been committed. The incident prompted the formation of the Pari Island Women’s Group in 2017 by 43‑year‑old Asmania, affectionately known as Sister Aas.

The group, which now has about 20 active members, focuses on mangrove planting, beach cleaning, and small‑scale tourism to protect the island’s environment and generate income for residents.

“We joined the Pari Island Women’s Group to hold onto my birthplace and so that my children and grandchildren can also continue living here. This is our home,” said 60‑year‑old Wina Sabenah, a grandmother of one, as she measured mangrove saplings along the coastline. The women’s ecological activities are part of a broader strategy to resist what they see as corporate encroachment that could lead to the island’s destruction.

“Security officers (from the company) used to tell me that I cannot plant plants. But now they don’t dare to stop me anymore because I have a lot of support from Jakarta‑based right groups,” Wina told CNA.

The island’s residents have long questioned the validity of PT Bumi Pari Asri’s certificates, alleging that signatures were collected without residents’ knowledge of the purpose. In 2018, the Indonesian Ombudsman found maladministration regarding the company’s certificates, but the findings have not led to a definitive resolution. The Ombudsman, an independent body that investigates complaints against government agencies and businesses, reported that the certificates were improperly managed.

Despite the Ombudsman’s findings, PT Bumi Pari Asri maintains that it is the lawful owner of the land.

Civil‑society organisations have stepped in to support the islanders. The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) has provided advocacy for residents whose land is claimed by private interests. Fadhil Alfathan, director of LBH Jakarta, told CNA that the organisation became involved in the dispute after residents raised concerns about the legitimacy of the company’s land claims.

“We are fighting back through farming, even though, at first, we had no knowledge of how to cultivate the land,” Asmania said. The group’s activities now include producing salted fish, fish crackers, and dodol, a sticky sweet made from seaweed, which are sold to tourists visiting the island.

Pari Island’s vulnerability to climate change adds urgency to the dispute. The island sits only 1.5 m above sea level, and reports predict that rising sea levels could submerge most parts of it by 2050. In December last year, a Swiss court agreed to hear a landmark case filed by Asmania and three other residents against global cement giant Holcim, seeking financial compensation for climate‑related loss and an order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The case highlights the broader environmental stakes that the island’s residents face.

The standoff between the Pari Island Women’s Group and PT Bumi Pari Asri has attracted media attention and public sympathy. Local media reports indicate that the dispute escalated in 2017 when the company’s security officers reportedly threatened residents who planted mangroves. The women’s group has since grown in visibility, with community members citing support from Jakarta‑based rights groups as a deterrent against further intimidation.

Looking ahead, the outcome of the dispute will likely hinge on the legal status of the company’s certificates and the broader regulatory framework governing land ownership in Indonesia’s coastal regions. If the Ombudsman’s findings are upheld, the company may face legal challenges that could force a reassessment of its land claims.

Conversely, if the courts side with PT Bumi Pari Asri, the island’s residents may need to seek alternative avenues for protecting their land rights, such as community‑based land trusts or further litigation.

For Malaysia, the Pari Island case underscores the importance of clear land‑ownership records and the need for environmental safeguards in coastal communities. The dispute also highlights the potential for civil‑society organisations to play a role in mediating conflicts between local residents and private developers. As climate change continues to threaten low‑lying islands across the region, the outcome of this case may serve as a precedent for similar disputes in Malaysia and beyond.

Related: Jakarta