Kartini, one of the shop owners at Tanjung Aan Beach, couldn’t hold back her tears as security personnel began to remove her goods. She expressed her belief that the actions taken by ITDC and the police do not reflect a commitment to protecting the community. Kartini feels that ITDC has never provided a platform for dialogue with local vendors and shop owners at Tanjung Aan Beach, nor have they asked the residents about their desires. “We don’t feel regarded as Indonesian citizens here; our ID cards seem meaningless,” she said, wiping away her tears in front of the security forces and media on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Kartini emphasized that ITDC should have initiated a conversation with the community to understand their needs. She pointed out that residents had requested ITDC not to commence evictions, especially since the hotel construction by investors has yet to begin. In Kartini’s view, ITDC should demonstrate a measure of humanity towards the local people, allowing them to continue their businesses until the hotel project is completed.
“We are merely selling at the beachside, yet the government takes everything from us, claiming it’s for the welfare of the people,” she lamented. “There’s still thousands of hectares of unused land behind us, so why are we the first to be targeted?” The owner of Warung Aloha is now facing a serious dilemma, as she employs 60 staff members who are now left unemployed due to the eviction of her eatery.
“What will happen to these 60 employees? If we don’t stand our ground, how will we feed ourselves in the future? How many more loans do we need to take out from the bank, and who will bear the burden of our motorbike loans and other debts?” Kartini voiced her concerns. She asserted that the actions of ITDC and the combined security forces highlight the arrogance of the government towards the people. Furthermore, she accused ITDC of sowing discord among the vendors to expedite their relocation.
Earlier, the situation surrounding the demolition of local vendors’ stalls at Tanjung Aan Beach escalated, particularly when one vendor resisted dismantling their structure. The eviction process commenced around 9 AM WITA, with a force of 700 personnel including police, military, local security, and village security teams dispatched. Tensions soared when one shop owner refused to vacate, arguing that the enforcement was being carried out unilaterally by ITDC, the managing authority of the special economic zone in Mandalika.
Students from various universities in Mataram rallied against the evictions at Tanjung Aan Beach. The coordinator, Ahmad Badawi, described the response as swift action against the forced relocations that began in the morning. “The evictions started at 8 AM and are being implemented by Vanguard without a clear legal basis, along with officials from the Central Lombok Tourism Department, TNI and police personnel,” Badawi stated during the protests on July 15, 2025.
Badawi noted that the demonstration aims to raise awareness among the people of Mataram about the unjustified evictions at Tanjung Aan Beach. This swift response will continue as they ride towards the eviction site to encourage others to recognize the plight of the affected community.
Another protester, Pijai, added that not just students but all citizens must be cognizant of these evictions, as such actions occur frequently throughout Indonesia. “At any moment, any one of us could become the next victim. It’s only when we face the same fate as the residents of Tanjung Aan that we will truly understand their struggle,” Pijai explained.
