PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN, Labuan Bajo – The land dispute in the Batu Gosok area, Labuan Bajo Subdistrict, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, continues to unfold.
What was initially seen as a personal conflict between Fr. Marsel Agot, SVD, and a Labuan Bajo resident named Alosius Oba, has now allegedly drawn in four Catholic priests and entered the sensitive territory of the internal affairs of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD).
The names mentioned as allegedly receiving land from a local land administrator are not ordinary figures within the Catholic Church.
First, the late Fr. Fransiskus Pora Udjan, SVD, a senior priest from Lembata who passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025, at St. Rafael Cancar Hospital.
Second, Fr. Lamber Kopong, who has since left the SVD Order to become a diocesan priest (Projo) and is currently serving in Papua.
Third, RP Oswaldus Bule, SVD, who is now retired and serving at the SVD Motherhouse in Ruteng.
Fourth, Fr. Marsel Agot, SVD, who is currently serving in Labuan Bajo and is directly involved in the dispute with Alosius Oba.
The alleged involvement of these four individuals means the Batu Gosok dispute is no longer perceived as a regular claim dispute. It has now developed into an issue affecting the reputation and internal governance of a major religious order within the Ruteng Diocese.
Of the four alleged individuals, two priests have been confirmed by the media: Fr. Marsel Agot and RP Oswaldus Bule. However, both have chosen to remain tight-lipped.
Attempts to confirm with Fr. Marsel Agot have been made since the conflict emerged on January 27, 2026. WhatsApp messages and even direct visits to his residence at Hotel Perundi in Labuan Bajo yielded no results.
A meeting opportunity finally arose after the 2027 RKPD RANWAL Public Consultation Forum at the West Manggarai Regency Secretary’s Hall on Thursday (February 12, 2026). However, his response remained brief.
“The case is with the Police Resort. I don’t want to deal with Alo Oba,” Fr. Marsel stated before leaving, as quoted from a Labuan Bajo media outlet on Thursday (February 20, 2025).
Meanwhile, RP Oswaldus Bule was met at the SVD Motherhouse in Ruteng on Monday morning (February 16, 2026). During the approximately 30-minute meeting, his responses appeared formal and directed toward leadership authority.
“Ask Fr. Marsel. Have you been to see Fr. Marsel yet?” he said when asked about his name being mentioned in the land grant document.
He emphasized that his position is only as a member of the order.
“My position is as a member of the order, including Fr. Marsel Agot. It would be best to ask my superior directly,” he said, referring to the Provincial Superior of SVD Ruteng, Fr. Paulus Tolo Djogo, SVD.
Amid public scrutiny, the SVD Ruteng Provincial Superior has not been reachable in Ruteng since Sunday evening (February 15) to Monday morning (February 16). Collected information indicates he is in Labuan Bajo and holding a closed-door meeting with several priests, including Fr. Marsel Agot.
On Tuesday morning (February 17, 2026), this media outlet contacted Fr. Paulus again via WhatsApp, requesting time for an interview while he was in Labuan Bajo. However, the response received was brief.
“I am currently busy. I am very sorry,” wrote Fr. Paulus, as quoted from Okebajo.com.
When asked about the possibility of confirmation via phone call, he only replied, “After I finish my business, yes,” without specifying a definite time.
What is the Root of the Land Dispute?
The root of the land dispute in the Batu Gosok area, Labuan Bajo Subdistrict, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), is allegedly linked to a land grant whose ownership status is questionable.
A reliable source told the media that the approximately 11-hectare plot now claimed by Fr. Marsel Agot, SVD, is not vacant land, but has been occupied and cultivated by Aloisius Oba’s family for decades.
“Let me explain this! Alo Oba has owned this land long before Fr. Marsel Agot was in Labuan Bajo – even long before he received the land grant at that location. This land has been occupied by Alo Oba’s father since a long time ago (even during difficult times). They used to live there with their family and even farmed the land,” FS told this media outlet on Monday (February 2, 2026).
According to FS, Fr. Marsel Agot’s claim is allegedly based on a grant from a person named Muhamad Syair, who is said to have granted approximately 11 hectares of land in the Batu Gosok area to four Catholic priests, including Fr. Marsel Agot, SVD. However, a fundamental issue arises regarding Muhamad Syair’s authority when granting the land.
“Recently, Muhamad Syair granted approximately 8 hectares of land at that location to four priests – one of whom is Fr. Marsel Agot. I also don’t know what considerations led MS to grant the land to the three priests. In essence, Fr. Marsel Agot received the grant from Muhamad Syair, but our question now is: when Muhamad Syair granted the land, was he acting as a customary official (redistributing his own private land) or was it on land owned by others?” FS emphasized.
Meanwhile, the media has not received any statement from Muhamad Syair. Although confirmation was requested via WhatsApp on Monday evening (February 2, 2026), the message sent has not been replied to to date. (ed)
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