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For Church or People: The History of Land Dispute in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province from the Perspective of Tana' Ai Community

Forest and Society · Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 240–257

DOI
10.24259/fs.v9i1.41906
ISSN
2549-4333, 2549-4724
Published
2025-05-05
Publisher
Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

This study employs a political ecology approach to analyze the dynamics of land ownership in Indonesia, focusing on the Tana' Ai community in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. We argue that agrarian change is driven by external actors, including private companies that religious institutions and government agencies own. The latter often impose their will on indigenous populations, which can result in land conflicts, marginalization, and uneven capital accumulation. In particular, the church's status as a land use permit holder from the colonial era complicates the Tana' Ai ethnic community's ability to assert its ancestral land rights. To understand this further, this study examines the interactions between the church, local communities, and the state in land management and their impact on the dynamics of power and resistance of ethnic Tana' Ai communities to social and policy change. We ask, is land managed by the community or the church? The research contributes to the growing body of literature. It fills a significant gap on land disputes in Indonesia, which also appear to be conducted by religious institutions, and the long-term impacts of such conflicts on indigenous societies. We used qualitative methods, including interviews, participant observation, and archival analysis, across 3 villages in Sikka Regency. This understanding is crucial for addressing the socio-political and cultural challenges the Tana' Ai community faces in reclaiming their land rights and ensuring their sustainable livelihoods.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

28 authors · 91 co-authorship links · 48 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia
  • IPB University
  • Indonesian Institute of Sciences
  • National Research and Innovation Agency
  • Indonesia Open University
  • University of Indonesia
  • Australian National University
  • Other organisations
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Tri Astuti WisudayatiMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia3
Budi PrabowoIPB University2
Yoppie ChristianIPB University2
Thomas Oni VeriasaIPB University2
Aam AminahAffiliation unknown2
Anggi Dian SafitriMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia2
Hasan RoyaniMinistry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia2
Kurniawati Hastuti DewiIndonesian Institute of Sciences2
Sandy Nur Ikfal RaharjoIndonesian Institute of Sciences2
Dian Ratna SariIndonesian Institute of Sciences2
Shine Pintor Siolemba PatiroIndonesia Open University1
Hety BudiyantiState University of Makassar1
Hendrian HendrianIndonesia Open University1
Dian Charity HidayatAffiliation unknown1
Mokhamad Asyief Khasan BudimanUniversity of Brawijaya1
Andy AfandyIPB University1
Bintang Hanggoro PutraAffiliation unknown1
Sylviani SylvianiAffiliation unknown1
Aneka Prawesti SukaAffiliation unknown1
Dewi Ratna KurniasariAffiliation unknown1
Andy AfandiAffiliation unknown1
Novit RikardiAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">For Church or People: The History of Land Dispute in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province from the Perspective of Tana' Ai Community</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Desmiwati, Desmiwati</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Afiff, Suraya</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Martin, Edwin</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Surati, Surati</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hendarto, Kresno Agus</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Astuti, Rini</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Political ecology</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Land dispute</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Tana' Ai community</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Religious institution</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Capital acumulation</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">This study employs a political ecology approach to analyze the dynamics of land ownership in Indonesia, focusing on the Tana' Ai community in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. We argue that agrarian change is driven by external actors, including private companies that religious institutions and government agencies own. The latter often impose their will on indigenous populations, which can result in land conflicts, marginalization, and uneven capital accumulation. In particular, the church's status as a land use permit holder from the colonial era complicates the Tana' Ai ethnic community's ability to assert its ancestral land rights. To understand this further, this study examines the interactions between the church, local communities, and the state in land management and their impact on the dynamics of power and resistance of ethnic Tana' Ai communities to social and policy change. We ask, is land managed by the community or the church? The research contributes to the growing body of literature. It fills a significant gap on land disputes in Indonesia, which also appear to be conducted by religious institutions, and the long-term impacts of such conflicts on indigenous societies. We used qualitative methods, including interviews, participant observation, and archival analysis, across 3 villages in Sikka Regency. This understanding is crucial for addressing the socio-political and cultural challenges the Tana' Ai community faces in reclaiming their land rights and ensuring their sustainable livelihoods.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-05-05</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/41906</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.24259/fs.v9i1.41906</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Forest and Society; Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025): JUNE; 240-257</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4333</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2549-4724</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/fs/article/view/41906/12784</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Forest and Society</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>