A conservationist group, Aliansi Komodo Memanggil (AKM), held a protest in front of the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Forestry in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, rejecting the construction of luxury villas on Padar Island, an island within the preserved Komodo National Park (KNP), East Nusa Tenggara province.

The group argued that the project violates conservation laws and threatens Padar Island’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"Padar Island is not for sale to investors. The law is clear, the government must stop this project immediately," AKM Coordinator Astra Tandang said.

The group opposes the planned project to build 619 units of villas, spas, restaurants, wedding chapels, gyms, and other tourism facilities on Padar Island. The project is being led by PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism (KWE) with a 55-year concession.

"For us, this project is an act of land grabbing that threatens the sustainability of Komodo National Park," Astra said.

The group argued that Padar Island is located within KNP, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which possesses Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that must be preserved.

“Large-scale development like villas and resorts could damage the Komodo ecosystem and disrupt the natural landscape of Padar Island. And UNESCO has warned that such a project could jeopardize the World Heritage status,” Astra cited.

AKM also highlighted an agrarian injustice as PT KWE controls 274.13 hectares (19.5percent of Padar Island) with a concession lasting for 55 years (2014–2069). Of this land, 15.75 hectares will be used for physical structures, while the local community is allocated only 26 hectares for over 2,000 people.

“This situation highlights a stark agrarian imbalance, with local residents being displaced from their own land,” Astra said.

The group also considered the approval process for the project as a form of policy corruption, where state decisions favor large investors over local communities and conservation. It noticed that PT KWE is linked to major business networks, including entrepreneur Tomy Winata, while graft convict politician Setya Novanto has also been mentioned in the project’s dynamics.

“The permit was granted under the scheme of a Nature Tourism Facility Provision Business Permit (IUPSWA), processed without transparent public consultation. Even the Manggarai Barat Regional Parliament once rejected the project due to its contradiction with local interests,” Astra cited.

The group warns that if the project proceeds, it will result in significant damage to the Komodo habitat due to construction and pollution, a loss of the authentic landscape of Padar Island, increased social-economic injustice where local communities will be further marginalized, and the risk of losing the UNESCO World Heritage status as the Outstanding Universal Value of KNP diminishes.

AKM’s demands

Based on the facts on the ground, AKM issued five main demands:

1. The Ministry of Forestry should immediately revoke the permit for villa construction on Padar Island.

2. A comprehensive review of all permits and zoning in KNP to ensure compliance with conservation principles.

3. Recognition of the land rights of local communities and their involvement in tourism management.

4. Full transparency of permit documents, including the environmental impact assessment (AMDAL).

5. The termination of business monopolies and the promotion of community-based, eco-friendly, and fair tourism models.