Kuasa
Vol 2 No 2 (2025): October 2025

Conflict between the State and Indigenous Communities: A Study of the Construction of a Naval Military Base in the Aru Islands Regency 1991-2021

Gaston Otto Malindir (Universitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Oct 2025

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe the conflict between the state and indigenous communities in the case of the construction of a naval military base in Marfenfen Village, Aru Islands Regency, Maluku Province from 1991 to 2021. This study uses a qualitative method with data collection through literature studies. The analytical techniques used are data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results show that the Marafenfen conflict reflects structural tensions between the state and indigenous communities in the struggle for living space. The customary land dispute with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) demonstrates weak legal protection, manipulative bureaucratic practices, and judicial bias that emphasizes formal legality over substantive justice. When state law fails, indigenous communities actualize resistance through mass action and sasi, asserting their position as a political force based on local wisdom that is able to delay the state's agenda from 1991 to 2021.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jurnalkuasa

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Kuasa is an open access and a peer-review publication committed to the dissemination of rigorous research on the broad categories of social and political issue. Kuasa welcomes scholarly articles from experts, researchers and practitioners regarding various contemporary social and political issues ...