The project is a join venture of PT Angkasa Pura I and Indian resources from GVK Power and Infrastructure company [2].  Construction of Kulon Progo Airport city commenced in January 2017. Moreover, a new road is to be built from Kulon Progo Airport to Borobudur. As a consequences six villages are affected and have been evicted: Glagah, Palihan, Sindutan, Jangkaran, Kebon Rejo and Temon Kulon. The airport threatens to displace 2,875 households with 11,501 inhabitants, most of whom make their living from agriculture and fishing. Hundreds of farmers have refused to accept the compensation packages on offer for land [2]. Farmers, students and more than 84 social organization are calling for cancellation of the airport project. The organizations also denounce violations of law related to the absence of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

According to the "SHADOW REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN INDONESIA" report [13], the Sultan is the owner of the land so the land is "leased" to the villagers, but still claimed by the Sultan and backed by controversial Indonesia law. This creates conflicts when the Sultan is offered a more lucrative deal. This feudal system was supported by VOC/British colonist and is currently being revived under the regional autonomy of Yogyakarta Sultanate. In contrast, residents who have been living and working there for decades have been supported by National Indonesian Agrarian Law. According to this law (UUPA- Undang-Undang Pokok Agrarian tahun 1960), residents have secured property rights and the management of the land. However, this law still applies in Indonesia but not in Yogyakarta any more. Sultanate/Duchy imposes a colonial low to claim the land in this province. Despite the mobilization, the President Widodo broke ground on the project at the end of January 2017. And the event was met with a massive wave of protests, including obstruction of the ground-breaking ceremony [5, 6]. Hundreds of farmers have refused to accept the compensation packages on offer for land [2].  The movement protest thought marches, public campaigns, street art and direct action including a sit-in protest blocking a road with tree branches and stones, obstructing land surveys and removing boundary markers; and four university students went on hunger strike [13, 12]. Women play a prominent role in resisting the forced eviction for the new airport, "they stand their ground against the intimidation of large numbers of male officials, facing down heavy verbal aggression, refusing to obey commands, refuting claims that the airport is for their economic benefit and asserting their right to remain in their homes" [9]. Moreover, The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) has stated that the development of the new airport violates the rights of local residents and farmers and land owners surrounding airport project area had not received proper information of the negative impacts on their livelihoods [7]. Legal Aid Yogyakarta organization alerted that the project will result in the loss of vegetables production (basic food for living)[11] and the possible negative impacts on loosing sacred cultural valued sites; such as: Glagah Stupa Sites, Bronze Statues of Amoghasidhi and Vajrapani, Lumpang Batu, Eyang Gadhung Mlati, Gunung Lanang and Putri, and Makam Mbah Drajad [10]. According to The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Indonesian police, the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), and the Army have been acting violently against the protesters and villagers resisting displacement for the new airport [8] and the protesters (students, residents, activists) have been criminalized.  

After the protests and demonstration that took place during 2014-2015, four farmers: Sarijo, Wakidi, Tri Marsudiand Wasiyo, were sentenced to four months in prison for incitement (Sarijo) and damaging property (the three others)[13] . The worst incidence occurred on 16th February 2016 [9, 10]. Prior to construction, six villages were resisting against the construction of a two-metre-high security fence to block off the site and the police and army violently attacked the residents. Another peak of violence was on 27th of November of 2017. A video posted by Jogja Darurat Agraria [8] shows how  400 officials (police, army and representatives of Indonesia’s state-owned airport developer PT Angkasa Pura), cut off electricity supplies from villager's houses and using bulldozers destroyed some houses and trees and plants were uprooted. Villagers and students supported (including women, men and children resisted and tried to block standing and lying in the path of the bulldozers, however, they were dragged away by officials. On December 5th 2017 the police arrested 12 activist from the Solidarity network in the area [13]. On  8, January 2017, violence against citizens and students happened again. At least 15 residents and volunteers were fell victims, and two of them were rushed to the hospital due to injuries caused by the police (according to Solidarity networking)

Other day by day forms of violence against the residents who are still resisting in their houses, are threats and intimidations, some roads were closed by the police, they were deprived of electricity to force the residents to leave the area. Currently, at least 38 houses are still there and they are supported by solidarity network and  PWPP-KP but they suffer violence and threats almost everyday [14, 16,17]. Creative and difference strategies of mobilization are developing right now, e.g., find and use alternative energy sources such as solar panels; groups of students protect the houses to avoid eviction, clean and protect religious places, put the Indonesian shield on the houses (it's forbidden by government to touch that symbol). The last news [14, 15, 16] informed that there are eight investors acquiring land for the construction of their hotel in this area and the project continues, and the local government has offered money and agricultural land as a compensation [17].

The Global Anti-Areotropolis Movement (GAAM) reports revealed [2,9,10] that this project is part of the national Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI). The MP3EI Mega project, which was launched in 2011, contains a package of developments that encompass Indonesia into 6 areas / corridors of new capital-intensive industrialization projects. MP3EI planed Java Island as a national industrial and service area. Especially for Yogyakarta, MP3EI documents position it as one of the MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition) areas.

The Indonesian government is implementing a major aviation expansion programme which requires large amounts of state funding. In April 2015 the Ministry of Transportation announced a plan to build 57 new airports over the next five years, pledging to allocate US$5.5 billion for the projects [3].

Moreover, there are plans for commercial and industrial development around several airports: Juanda, Hang Nadim, Kuala Namu, Sultan Hasanuddin and Kertajati. Kulon Progo is one of them. All are potential examples of an emerging urban form known as the ‘aerotropolis’ [2].

According to Ankara Pura company, the Aerotropolis plan in Kulon Progo is made up of: Airport area (1200 Ha) ; area for recreation and Business (800Ha), Area for industry and residence (640 Ha); green and reserved area (1500Ha).

In the plan it is also included a future road that will connect the Aerotropolis with Yogyakarta center.