PRIME NEWS POST 

The INDONESIAN, (Jakarta) – The long-running land dispute in Keranga, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, has for years been one of the most controversial agrarian conflicts in the region. Amid an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police, a man identified by his initials KS has publicly challenged Santosa Kadiman, also known as Erwin Bebek, and the heirs of the late Nikolaus Naput to come forward and address the public.

KS has called on them to explain the full process of how the land was acquired, controlled, and eventually transferred — transactions that have been at the center of public debate for a long time. According to KS, the public has a right to know the true facts, as fundamental questions regarding documentation, land area, and the legality of these transactions remain unanswered to this day.

KS is the complainant in a case involving alleged falsification of customary land documents and abuse of authority, currently being handled by Bareskrim under report number STTL/96/II/2026/BARESKRIM dated February 27, 2026.

“If they truly believe every step taken was correct and legal, they should face the public. Explain to the people of Labuan Bajo how this land was obtained, who the original owners were, what legal basis was used, and how the process led to the land being traded. Do not let the community keep asking questions without ever getting a direct explanation from the parties involved,” KS stated firmly to the press in Jakarta on Monday, June 1, 2026.

KS noted that for years, the public has only heard one-sided claims, with no clear account from those said to be involved in the transactions concerning the land now under dispute.

The Mystery Behind the 40-Hectare Claim Remains Unanswered

One key issue KS has raised again is the claim regarding a land transaction covering 40 hectares, which has long been linked to Erwin Santosa Kadiman.

Based on field data and various documents he has reviewed, KS argues that the total area of vacant land available in the Keranga region is only around 27 hectares. This discrepancy leads him to question the basis for claiming a transaction involving 40 hectares.

“This is a question that has never been clearly answered. If there is only about 27 hectares of vacant land in Keranga, what is the legal or factual basis for trading 40 hectares? Where is the missing 13 hectares located? Who owns that land? To this day, the community has never received a clear explanation,” he said.

For KS, this is not just a matter of numbers — it goes to the heart of the land parcels that form the basis of numerous transactions and land title issuances now being contested.

St. Regis Groundbreaking Ceremony Seen as Creating a False Impression

KS also highlighted the groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Regis Labuan Bajo Hotel in April 2022, a grand event attended by several high-ranking officials.

In his view, the event gave the community the impression that all land-related issues had been resolved and there were no longer any problems.

“The public saw a large-scale ceremony attended by senior officials. As a result, people assumed every land dispute had been settled. In reality, the conflict was still ongoing, the legality of the land was still being questioned, and various legal requirements related to the development remained unclear. The fact is, until now, the project has not progressed as promised,” KS explained.

He believes this situation has only caused confusion among residents and raised doubts about legal certainty for investments in Labuan Bajo.

Land Title Documents Under Scrutiny

As the complainant, KS stated he has submitted a range of documents and statements to Bareskrim investigators.

A central focus of his inquiry is the set of documents used as the legal basis for the various land transactions and title issuances in the Keranga area.

“We have handed over many documents to the investigators. From the very beginning, we have questioned the validity and origin of the title deeds used in these transactions. We want to know how these documents were created and how they came to be accepted as the basis for issuing land certificates,” he said.

He expressed surprise that no public clarification has ever been provided regarding the documents that underpin so many claims of land ownership in the area.

A Dispute That Erodes Public Trust

For KS, the Keranga dispute has grown into something far broader than a simple conflict over land ownership.

He argues that the years-long conflict has undermined the community’s sense of justice and raised serious concerns about legal certainty in a region being developed as a leading national investment destination.

“More than just land is at stake here. What is truly on the line is public trust in the law and confidence in investment security in Labuan Bajo. Legitimate investors come seeking certainty — they do not leave behind unresolved problems that drag on for years,” he emphasized.

Ready to Bring the Case to the Attorney General’s Office

Not satisfied with the ongoing police investigation, KS revealed he is preparing further legal steps and plans to submit the matter to the Directorate General for General Criminal Proceedings (Jampidum) within the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia.

He said his report will name a number of individuals believed to be connected to the process of acquiring and transferring the land that is now the subject of the Keranga dispute.

“In the near future, I will bring this case to the Attorney General’s Office, accompanied by evidence that I believe is very strong and conclusive,” KS stated firmly.

He added that the submission will be supported by various documents, including Supreme Court rulings that have obtained permanent legal force, as well as official correspondence from the Attorney General’s Office itself.

“We want all the facts to be laid out openly and transparently, so that the public can finally have certainty and know the truth about a case that has been debated for so long,” he concluded.

Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
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