UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier de Schutter denounced Indonesia’s mega tourism project in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
UN human rights experts saying that the project, which is closely tied to the world-class MotoGP races, tramples on human rights.
He said that the US$3 billion projects on Lombok island has involved aggressive land grabs, forced evictions of Sasak indigenous peoples, along with intimidation.
State-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), which oversees the developments of the Mandalika Priority Tourism Zone, has yet to pay any compensation or settle the land disputes, according to the experts.
Schutter said that the Government of Indonesia groomed Mandalika to become a New Bali.
“Farmers and fisherfolks have been expelled from their land and have endured the destruction of their houses, fields, water sources, cultural and religious sites.”
Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) last year had urged ITDC to halt the construction of the MotoGP circuit in Mandalika, following reports of land disputes with local residents.
As information, Mandalika, the coastal resort area where the MotoGP races are set to take place, is located in NTB’s Central Lombok regency. To developing an enormous tourism complex,
In 2019, the government of Indonesia signed a deal with Dorna Spots (the exclusive commercial and television rights holder for MotoGP).
Indonesia preparing Lombok to host world-class motorcycling races for five years. The initial contract has since been extended to 10 years, with the first race initially set to take place this year.
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