Legal Protection and Certainty of Land Ownership in Post-Disaster Recovery: Evidence from Indonesia, Spain, and Oman

Maisa Maisa; Muh Nafri; Amriana Amri; Sergi Fernandez Alejandro; Souad Ahmed Ezzerouali

doi:10.15294/jllr.v7i1.19431

Authors

Maisa Maisa Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6344-2214
Muh Nafri Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4712-0618
Amriana Amri Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7888-1737
Sergi Fernandez Alejandro Sociedad Civil de Derecho y Políticas Públicas (SOCIPOL), Spain Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9002-1582
Souad Ahmed Ezzerouali School of Law, Dhofar University, Oman Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1635-1978

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v7i1.19431

Keywords:

Legal Protection, Land Ownership, Post-Disaster Recovery, Legal Certainty

Abstract

This study investigates the legal protection and certainty of land ownership in post-disaster recovery, with a comparative focus on Indonesia, Spain, and Oman. It particularly examines the aftermath of the 2018 earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and contrasts it with recovery efforts in Spain and Oman. Using a descriptive empirical legal approach, the study explores the legal protections for disaster victims, the restoration of land ownership, and challenges in rebuilding. In Indonesia, the 2018 disaster in Petobo Village is analyzed through Governor Regulation No. 10 of 2019, which governs post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction. The law stipulates the rights to land restitution and housing reconstruction; however, delays in permanent housing construction have hindered the realization of victims’ rights. In Spain, the recovery from the 2011 earthquake in Lorca is examined under the Royal Decree 307/2005, which regulates compensation for victims of natural disasters. Despite the law’s aim to safeguard land rights and accelerate recovery, significant delays occurred in land restitution and compensation for affected property owners. In Oman, the Land Expropriation Law (Royal Decree No. 6/2008) and Cyclone Gonu Recovery Law provide mechanisms for land distribution and compensation, but challenges arose due to incomplete property registration and inconsistent enforcement, which delayed recovery efforts. By comparing these legal frameworks, the study highlights the differences in land governance and proposes recommendations for strengthening legal protections and ensuring faster, more efficient recovery in post-disaster contexts.

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