Agrarian Conflict and Customary Land Rights: An Adat Law Perspective on Land Dispute Resolution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62872/hnkymc46Keywords:
Land disputes, Indigenous land ownership, Adat Law, legal diversity, hak ulayat, land conflict resolutionAbstract
Land disputes in Indonesia persist as a major issue, primarily arising from the conflict between the formal national legal system and the Indigenous legal traditions governing land ownership, particularly Adat Law. This research investigates agrarian conflicts, focusing on how traditional land rights (hak ulayat) often clash with the modern legal frameworks that dominate the national system. The study identifies the profound disconnect between state laws and the cultural practices of Indigenous communities, stressing the urgent need for a legal framework that honors both formal and customary law. Through the examination of current conflict cases, the research demonstrates that traditional conflict resolution methods rooted in Adat Law, with their emphasis on community consensus, offer a more sustainable and just approach compared to rigid state systems. The findings argue for the acknowledgment and legal incorporation of customary law in addressing land disputes, thereby protecting the land rights of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the study advocates for a transformation in national agrarian policies to establish a cohesive legal approach that respects and integrates both customary and formal legal systems, ultimately paving the way for a more inclusive and just agrarian reform process.
Downloads
References
Achmadi, A., Hangabei, S. M., Dimyati, K., & Absori, A. (2021). Culture-based land right conflict resolution model: A case study of the Dayak tomun indigenous people. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies, 16(2), 1.
Adila, A., & Alexandra, S. (2025). Implementation of Customary Law in Land Dispute Resolution in Indigenous Law Communities. Hakim: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum dan Sosial, 3(1), 993-1012.
Aru, D., Markus, D. P., Yati, S., & Simanjuntak, K. W. (2024). Agrarian Law Study on the Settlement of Customary Land Disputes in Sorong Regency. ACADEMOS Jurnal Hukum dan Tatanan Sosial, 3(1).
Cantona, R. (2025). Dynamics of customary land disputes and implementation of indigenous peoples' rights: a systematic study in the perspective of indonesian agrarian law. Legal Frontier, 1(1), 1-10.
Dhiaulhaq, A., & McCarthy, J. F. (2020). Indigenous rights and agrarian justice framings in forest land conflicts in Indonesia. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 21(1), 34-54.
Lestaluhu, R., Kurniati, N., & Judiasih, S. D. (2024). Out-of-Court Settlement of Customary Land Rights Disputes of the Malamoi Tribe within the Framework of Land Law Reform. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8), 10883-10897.
Lubis, A. F. (2025). Customary Law In Conflict Mitigation Within Families, Communities And Spiritual Entities. International Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences, 3(1), 41-50.
Muharman, D. (2025). The Effectiveness of Customary Law in Resolving Land Disputes in Rural Areas: Social and Legal Perspectives in the Modern Era. Journal of the American Institute, 2(4), 597-607.
Pertiwi, M. D., Firdausy, A. G., & Kharisma, D. B. (2024, December). Problematics of Land Dispute Resolution in Indonesia. In Proceedings of the International Conference for Democracy and National Resilience (ICDNR 2024). (p. 94). Springer Nature.
Polontoh, H., & Katjong, K. (2024). Dynamics of the Meeting Between Customary Law and Modern Law in Resolving Land Disputes in Rural Communities. JHK: Jurnal Hukum dan Keadilan, 1(3), 40-45.
Putirulan, B. R., Simanjuntak, K. W., & Polański, P. P. (2024). Settlement of the Malamoi Community Customary Land Dispute in Sorong Regency: A Review of Legal and Social Aspects. Journal of Law Justice (JLJ), 2(2), 107-121.
Rahmat, D., NU, S. B., & Reviando, Y. (2024). Problems and Resolutions of Traditional Land Disputes in the Minangkabau Region. Journal of Law and Economics, 3(2), 64-70.
Satory, A., Ahmad, S. D., Praditha, D. G. E., & Muharman, D. (2025). The Role of Customary Law in Land Dispute Resolution in Rural Areas: Challenges and Prospects in the Modern Era. Journal of the American Institute, 2(4), 511-522.
Shidiq, R. A., & Pulungan, M. S. (2025). Alternative Dispute Resolution for Customary Land Through Customary Courts. Asian Journal of Engineering, Social and Health, 4(1), 152-162.
Siregar, T., Harap, A. S., & Lubis, I. (2022). Mediation As an Alternative Dispute Resolution: Customary Law Perspective. Kanun Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 24(2), 196-214.
Sukirno, S. (2025). Indigenous land dispute.
Sunarno, S. (2019). Development of Land Conflict Settlement Model Based on Indigenous Knowledge of the Local Communities in Indonesia. Indonesian Comparative Law Review, 1(2), 122-135.
Suryana, I. A., & Djajaputera, G. (2024). Analysis of Land Rights Acquisition Through Inheritance in Cases of Customary Land Disputes. Pena Justisia: Media Komunikasi dan Kajian Hukum, 23(2), 472-489.
Wijaya, V. R. (2024). The Intersection Of Customary Law And National Land Law In The Settlement Of Land Disputes In Indonesia. Jurnal Multidisiplin Sahombu, 4(02), 401-407.
Wutwensa, B. M., Lobubun, M., Rato, D., & Anggono, B. D. (2025). A Hybrid Model for Resolving Customary Land Disputes in Papua’s Indigenous Communities. Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Kyadiren, 6(2), 1-12.
