'Komnas HAM calls for halt to construction of Mandalika MotoGP circuit over land dispute', 01 October 2020

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has asked the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to temporarily halt the construction of the Mandalika MotoGP circuit in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) due to reports of a land dispute with local residents. The decision was made after the commission visited the construction location and met with locals.. 15 landowners.. complained about two main problems. The first is the fact that they are on the brink of getting evicted despite [the ITDC] having not paid them for their land. The second is they claimed to face intimidation from certain parties, so they don't feel safe.. The commission had contacted the ITDC regarding the complaints, however the company refuted the claims, saying that it had a legitimate right to continue the street circuit construction… Indonesia will host a prestigious MotoGP event after securing a deal with Dorna Sports, the MotorGP rights holder, for a race slot in the 2021 season. The deal was sealed in January 2019 by the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the state-owned company responsible for developing the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in which the circuit is located…