The lawsuit was directed at the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Forestry over the issuance of an exemption letter from mandatory Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) requirements for PT Tanaya Pesona Batur.

Amid the prolonged legal process, social tensions within the community have grown. A local farmer, Jero Berata, said the dispute has led to social pressure and strained family relationships due to differing views on the tourism project, which has been ongoing for about three years.

“We strongly object. The most painful part is the social conflict. Even with our own relatives, we haven’t spoken for three years,” he said.

He believes the division stems from conflicting interests between those supporting and opposing the investment. According to him, economic interests are beginning to overshadow the social values that have long underpinned traditional Balinese life.

“In Bali, social values cannot be separated. But now they seem to be losing to money. That is what worries us,” he added.

Farmers say they rely heavily on the disputed land. Although some do not hold formal land certificates, they have managed and preserved the area for decades, including reforestation efforts around the lake since the 1980s.

However, they claim development activities by the company have damaged infrastructure such as water pipelines and cable networks. Promises of repairs and compensation, they said, have yet to be fulfilled.

Complaints were submitted to the Bangli Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) three years ago, but no concrete follow-up has been made. Recent attempts to engage members of the House of Representatives Commission III also failed to produce clarity.

Rezky Pratiwi, a representative of the Batur Farmers Advocacy Coalition, alleged there are indications of violations in land use. She said development activities may have breached regional regulations and existing permit requirements.

“It is evident that construction activities are taking place on land with unclear permits. The stated permit area is around 86 hectares,” she said.

The area is planned as a nature-based tourism project with a leisure park concept, including the development of resorts, hotels, lake tourism, and supporting facilities. However, several activities are reportedly already underway, such as boat tours on the lake, hot spring pool construction, and glamping facilities.

Rezky also highlighted what she described as a breach of commitment by the company, which had previously promised not to disrupt community activities.

“That is a form of broken commitment. We will also push for sanctions, not only against the company but also the government if negligence is proven,” she asserted.

The coalition affirmed it will continue to assist farmers through legal channels, including appeal, cassation, and judicial review if necessary. The appeal is scheduled to be filed on April 22, 2026, within the 14-day deadline following the court ruling.

Observers note that the conflict goes beyond economic issues, touching on the survival of the Batur indigenous community, which has a long history of preserving the area.

For local residents, the land is not merely a source of livelihood but also part of their cultural identity and ancestral heritage that must be protected.

“We are not just earning a living. This is about our history and our lives as an indigenous community,” a farmers’ representative said.

The community hopes the government will step in with a fair solution, taking into account social and environmental aspects, and ensuring a transparent legal process that upholds justice.