Semarang (25/7) – Faculty of Social and Political Sciences FISIP (FISIP) Universitas Diponegoro (Undip) just hold a seminar and book review with the theme The Void of Citizens’ Rights Towards the 2024 Election from the book The Emptiness of Society vs Palm Oil Companies written by Professor Ward Berenschot. The event was held hybrid at the Undip Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).

This activity presented Ward Berenschot, a Professor of Comparative Political Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam and senior researcher at KITLV Leiden who is also the author of the book. Apart from that, two other speakers were also present, including Dr. Nur Hidayat Sardini, M.Si as Head of the Department of Political and Governance Studies FISIP Undip, and Dr. Laila Kholid Al Firdaus, a lecturer at FISIP Undip. The scientific discussion of the three speakers was moderated by Retna Hanani, S.Sos., MPP (Department of Public Administration) and lecturers and students were also presented as participants.

This book review began with a remark by the Head of the Department of Political and Governance Studies, Dr. Nur Hidayat Sardini, M.Sc. The academic, who is well known as Mr. NHS, explained that this book came at the right moment, namely during the political years, “We want to take advantage of the momentum of holding the 2024 election, seeing this book I am very interested. this book will really design our research very much further on the description and data explored by Mr. Ward and I see that it is an added value so that this book is very good and inspiring,” he said at the opening of the activity

“This book begins with one of the cases, namely the case of PT. Singkang Raya since 2007. Olak-Olak Village and 9 other villages have sued the company for not receiving compensation and plasma land. Plasma land is a partnership pattern and benefits promised by the company, and this case has also been brought to court.” Professor Ward explained conveying some excerpts and important notes from the book he wrote

He also cited cases that occurred in Indonesia and how the community struggled to seek their rights. Legally, there were positive results obtained, yet Professor Ward explained the irony that occurred in this case.

“The community won this case in the Supreme Court, but the company’s decision of the Supreme Court was not implemented. The company still refuses to return the land.” He added.

Professor Ward’s motivation for writing this book was because cases like this were only one of the sources of land disputes that most affect the prosperity and well-being of many people in Indonesia. This dispute occurred in various regions in Indonesia. And of course, this is not only a problem for the people, but also for the Indonesia Government. Through this book, Professor Ward hoped to help the community and the government to resolve cases that occur more easily and quickly.

More specifically, the contents of this book are conflicts between rural communities and oil palm companies caused by a lack of de facto rights, namely the difficulty of the community to express their rights. This situation of powerlessness over people’s rights is important to consider in developing a strategy to deal with it. A strategy that focuses on getting compensation, mediation, negotiation and not just focusing on passing laws. The focus of this book is on strategies to combat rights, and conflict resolution is usually less effective because most conflicts are not resolved.

Retna Hanani, MPP, as the moderator summarized that this book could provide a comprehensive picture of Professor Ward’s attention to cases that occurred in Indonesia.

“I think the case of a lack of rights can be drawn from its relevance for citizens in Indonesia because almost all public servants in their efforts to fulfil their rights in society, often does not occur in its implementation. The problems experienced by residents in the oil palm plantation area are not only citizen issues but also political issues, which we will experience together this year and next year,” Retna explained.

Dr. Laila as the speaker shared her experiences related to the book being discussed. His experience in researching palm oil issues had faced challenges due to information management.

“This book helps systematize my analysis to place concepts and makes an analysis frame that helps me to find existing problems which turn out to be a matter of land,” she said.

Dr. Laila explained that this land-related problem was a problem that required attention, “This is indeed a land problem and it turns out that the wrong party then framed it as their right to protest and so many other rights. The use of the concept of emptiness really helps any researcher. Take me as the example of a beginner in oil palm issues, to tidy up his analysis of oil palm and the reading of oil palm issues or other issues”.

The event ended up with discussion and question & answer sessions which involved participants and speakers until it was closed by Dr. Nur Hidayat Sardini, M.Sc., Head of the Department of Politics and Government Studies. He thanked the parties involved and the great enthusiasm of the participants.