On a bright Monday morning in June, Novry steered his fiberglass boat across the glistening waters of Kupang Bay, heading toward the small enclave of Pulau Kera. Accompanied by his wife and several neighbors, he was returning from the Oeba Market in Kupang City, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The group had spent the early hours selling their fresh catch—a bounty of tuna and skipjack—and were now returning with essential supplies: clean water, rice, and household goods. For the inhabitants of Pulau Kera, this nautical commute is not merely a routine; it is the pulse of a community that has lived in harmony with the sea for over a century.
Pulau Kera, located within the Sulamu District of Kupang Regency, is a 45-hectare island home to approximately 120 families, totaling more than 500 people. The majority of the residents belong to the Bajo ethnic group, originally hailing from Buton and Wakatobi. Known historically as "Sea Nomads," the Bajo people of Pulau Kera represent the fifth generation of settlers on the island. Despite their long-standing presence, they now find themselves at the center of an intensifying conflict between traditional land rights and large-scale tourism investment.
A Life Sustained by the Sea
For Novry, who serves as the Chairman of the Pulau Kera Fishermen’s Union (SNPK), the island is a divine gift. His perspective reflects a deep-seated cultural philosophy where the ocean is not just a resource, but a co-habitant. "Pulau Kera is God’s grace. The most important thing is that we can live side by side with the sea; that is enough for us," Novry stated. The economic reality of the island supports his sentiment. By utilizing traditional fishing methods and fish aggregating devices known as rumpon, the fishermen harvest tuna, skipjack, and mackerel.
The division of labor on the island is a testament to the community’s resilience. Nana, a female fisherman, begins her workday before dawn. She maintains her husband’s boat, repairs the ropes for the rumpon, and frequently joins the fishing expeditions. During the day, she transitions to the shoreline to harvest seaweed, a task that continues until dusk. "From this sea, we can live," Nana explained. "The catch and the seaweed are sufficient to meet our family’s daily needs."
The financial data underscores a degree of self-sufficiency that contradicts government narratives of extreme poverty. On average, a family involved in seaweed cultivation can earn approximately Rp1.5 million per month. When combined with fishing yields, which average between Rp2 million and Rp3 million monthly, a household’s total income often surpasses the regional minimum wage. This income allows the residents to not only survive but also to fund their children’s education and maintain their communal lifestyle, despite the lack of state-provided infrastructure.
The Looming Shadow of Relocation
The tranquility of Pulau Kera is currently threatened by a two-decade-old plan for relocation. Since 2002, the Kupang Regency Government has sought to move the residents to mainland locations such as Semau, Manikin, Pariti, and Pantulan. While the proposal lay dormant for several years, it was revived in March 2025 by the Regent of Kupang, Yosef Lede. The government’s justification for the move is twofold: the island’s status as a protected nature park and the lack of basic services like clean water, electricity, and health facilities.
However, the community sees the situation differently. They argue that the lack of facilities is a result of systemic neglect by the state rather than a reason for eviction. "If the Regent says we are backward because there are no facilities, why haven’t they built schools, water systems, or electricity lines all this time?" asked Hamdan Saba, a prominent community leader. "We have guarded this island with our own strength. Now, because those facilities are missing, we are the ones being kicked out?"
Hamdan’s family history on the island dates back to 1884, when his ancestor, Jumilla, sailed from Messah Island to settle on Pulau Kera. For the residents, the island is their ruang hidup—their living space—intertwined with their identity as Bajo people. The prospect of being moved to Pantulan, a land-based location on Timor Island, is viewed as a death sentence for their culture and livelihood. As Biece, another local fisherman, noted, "If we are relocated, we lose more than just a job; we lose our identity. We are Bajo; our every activity is in the sea. If we cannot fish, how will our families eat?"
The Legal Battle: Conservation vs. Investment
The legal complexity of the Pulau Kera dispute began in January 1993, when the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry designated Kupang Bay as a Marine Natural Tourism Park (TWAL) under Decree No. 18/Kpts-II/1993. This 50,000-hectare conservation area includes Pulau Kera. The government has used this status to argue that the island is not a residential zone but a tourism and conservation area, making the villagers’ presence technically illegal in the eyes of the state.
This conservation narrative, however, overlaps with private interests. The Pitoby Group, a major regional developer, claims ownership of a significant portion of the island. Through its subsidiary, PT Pitoby Raya Resort, the company holds two Building Rights Title (HGB) certificates covering approximately 26 hectares—more than half of the island’s total area. These certificates, which are valid until 2047, were reportedly obtained based on a 1986 land transaction with the descendants of Fetor Bisilisin, the traditional ruler (Raja) of Kupang at the time.
Bobby Thinung Pitoby, the Managing Director of the Pitoby Group, maintains that the development of a luxury resort is essential for the region’s economic growth. The planned resort would feature 12 villas, restaurants, and facilities for snorkeling, diving, and jet skiing. "Kupang Regency currently does not have a resort. We hope this project can support regional economic growth through the tourism sector," Bobby told Mongabay. He further argued that the relocation is a humanitarian effort by the government to move citizens to "more habitable" locations with better access to services.
Visual data from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN) shows that the Pitoby Group’s HGB areas directly overlap with the existing settlement of the fishermen. This spatial conflict has led to the suspension of villa construction, which began in mid-2025, as the company waits for the government to finalize the relocation of the residents.
Advocacy and Human Rights Implications
The community’s resistance reached a boiling point in June 2025, when the Advocacy Alliance for the People of Pulau Kera—a coalition including WALHI NTT, AGRA NTT, and other civil society groups—staged a mass demonstration in front of the NTT Governor’s office and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD). The protesters carried signs reading "We Refuse Relocation," signaling their rejection of what they term the "theft of living space."
Fadly Anetong, the Coordinator of the Alliance of Agrarian Reform Movements (AGRA) in NTT, argues that the government’s actions violate Law No. 1/2014, which amended Law No. 27/2007 regarding the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands. "This law identifies local communities as the primary subjects in the management of small islands. The state should be protecting, recognizing, and empowering the residents of Pulau Kera, not relocating them to serve investment interests," Fadly stated.
The alliance has called for a shift in the government’s approach, urging them to resolve the agrarian conflict through the recognition of customary rights rather than through the threat of security forces. They argue that the "backwardness" of the island is a policy choice made by the administration to facilitate the eventual clearing of the land for private enterprise.
Analytical Overview and Broader Impact
The situation in Pulau Kera is emblematic of a broader trend in Indonesia, where "Blue Economy" initiatives and "Premium Tourism" developments often clash with the rights of indigenous and traditional coastal communities. The Bajo people, whose entire socio-economic structure is built around marine mobility, are particularly vulnerable to land-based relocation.
Chronology of Key Events:
- 1884: Initial settlement of the Bajo people on Pulau Kera.
- 1986: Pitoby Group claims to have purchased land from traditional heirs.
- 1993: Pulau Kera designated as part of the Kupang Bay Marine Natural Tourism Park (TWAL).
- 2002: First official relocation plan proposed by the Kupang Regency Government.
- 2017: Pitoby Group’s HGB certificates extended until 2047.
- March 2025: Regent Yosef Lede reactivates the relocation plan for Pantulan.
- June 2025: Mass protests by residents and activists in Kupang.
- July 2026: Pitoby Group confirms readiness to proceed with resort construction pending relocation.
The implications of this conflict extend beyond the 45 hectares of Pulau Kera. If the relocation proceeds, it sets a precedent that conservation and tourism designations can be used to override the ancestral rights of coastal communities. Furthermore, the move risks destroying the sustainable fishing practices maintained by the Bajo, potentially forcing a productive maritime community into a state of land-based poverty and dependence on government aid.
As of late June 2026, the Kupang Regency Government, including Vice Regent Aurum Titu Eki, has remained silent in response to formal inquiries regarding the status of the residents. Meanwhile, the people of Pulau Kera continue to go to sea, their lives anchored to the tides, even as the political currents seek to pull them away from the only home they have known for generations. The resistance of Novry, Nana, and their neighbors is a testament to a community that refuses to be erased from the map in the name of progress.
