TULUNGAGUNG – Calls for a deeper corruption probe in Tulungagung intensified on Monday as civil society groups urged local authorities to investigate past graft cases and speed up agrarian reform.
Members of the People’s Aspiration Struggle Alliance Movement, or Gempar, gathered outside the Tulungagung regency office and local legislative council. They submitted 11 demands covering governance, anti-corruption efforts, and land rights.
A key demand focused on corruption cases linked to a previous sting operation by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Tulungagung.
Gempar adviser Mohammad Ababilil Mujaddidyn said investigators should pursue every lead and uncover the wider network behind the alleged corruption.
“After the KPK sting operation, we want corruption cases investigated down to the root causes in Tulungagung. We also want authorities to examine all related government offices and technical units,” he said.
Beyond anti-corruption issues, protesters highlighted the slow progress of agrarian reform in several rural areas. Villages such as Ngepoh, Tanggunggunung, Nyawangan, Picisan, and Kalitengah remain key points of concern.
According to Gempar, recommendations issued by the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) on August 19, 2025, have yet to produce meaningful results on the ground.
The group argued that many small-scale farmers still lack legal certainty over the land they cultivate. Some farmers continue to struggle for access to agricultural land despite years of advocacy.
“Landless small farmers continue fighting for their right to obtain farmland,” Ababilil said.
Acting Tulungagung Regent Ahmad Baharudin responded by saying the local government remains open to public criticism and community input.
He said public participation plays an important role in improving governance and strengthening government accountability.
Baharudin acknowledged that the administration is currently focused on resolving administrative challenges while ensuring public services and development programs continue without disruption.
“Government operations must continue. They cannot come to a standstill,” he said.
The acting regent also pledged improvements in several sectors that have drawn public attention. Those areas include budget transparency, street lighting management, and environmental governance.
One ongoing initiative involves upgrading the Segawe landfill site. The local government has allocated Rp 6 billion for renovation and management improvements.
Regarding agrarian reform, Baharudin said the administration would not obstruct community land rights as long as the process complies with existing regulations and falls within local government authority.
“Land that legally belongs to the people will be handed over if it falls under the authority of the Tulungagung administration,” he said.
Gempar warned that it could organize larger demonstrations in the future if authorities fail to respond to the group’s demands.
The protest highlights growing pressure on local leaders. Residents want stronger anti-corruption measures, better governance, and faster land reform in Tulungagung.