Bedol desa for the sake of gajah mungkur: The initial notes of migrants of sitiung I and II west sumatra

In the history of Indonesia, transmigration program received a great and ambitious attention in the New Order era. This was continued until the program of Pola Sitiung, which involved various departments with their different affairs to work together in the implementation of the program. Known as a “crash program, " Pola Sitiung transmigration consisted of many aspects to be prepared such as the parties involved and the area to be occupied themselves, the transmigration policy in the central and local government, how the village head carrying out various approaches to the community, the process of site selection, land availability, land preparation, and the response of the people of Sitiung, West Sumatra. Applying a historical research approach, this work takes two case studies set in a Sitiung I and Sitiung II bedol desa transmigration context in the New Order era. Through its findings, this study offers a broad spectrum of people and government to explore across the preparation and execution. In the field of research methods analysis research using document material, to consist primary and secondary sources and oral history materials evidence are exposed. The intense attention of the central government was based on the demand of development in Java Island, particularly the construction of Gajah Mungkur reservoir which required the inhabitants to move. Here, transmigration was an alternative solution. Pola Sitiung program was then implemented, with a better success compared to the previous programs. The most important purpose of Pola Sitiung transmigration was not only to reduce the population density of Java Island and create a more prosperous society in general, but also to construct Gajah Mungkur reservoir. Aiming to support the New Order government’s five-year plan (Repelita II) and to improve the welfare of the migrant society, bedol desa transmigration from Wonogiri to Sitiung I and II was an important historical milestone to successfully finsih the construction of Gajah Mungkur reservoir.