Bogor farmers rally for more compensation<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): More than 200 farmers of Rancamaya village here
\nwent to the local mayoralty office and legislative council
\nyesterday to make fresh demands about their former land, now the
\nsite of a luxury housing complex.<\/p>\n
The dispute between farmers and developers over the 257
\nhectares had been settled with the help of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights in 1993. Farmers received compensation
\nfor their crops cleared to make way for the establishment of the
\nluxury housing estate, which is equipped with a golf course.<\/p>\n
But many claimed yesterday they were dissatisfied with the
\ncompensation and were capitalizing on the spirit of reform to
\nvoice their complaint.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by several students who identified themselves as
\nthe Front of Young Protectors of People's Rights, the farmers sat
\nin the mayoralty compound to listen to a free-speech forum by the
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
Farmer Jaja, 76, said he had cultivated 8,000 square meters in
\nthe area since 1945.<\/p>\n
\"I had a document allowing me to utilize the land, but it was
\ntaken by an official of the subdistrict on the grounds that it
\nwould be replaced with a new one.\" Jaja said the document never
\nmaterialized.<\/p>\n
Saarim, 49, who formerly farmed on a one-hectare plot, said
\nall farmers were made to sign a document in 1990 although they
\ndid not understand its purpose.<\/p>\n
In 1992, crops cultivated by the local farmers were bulldozed,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The following year, Jaja and Saarim were given Rp 200,000 and
\nRp 400,000 respectively in compensation for their crops.<\/p>\n
Meeting<\/p>\n
Led by resident Chepy Sudrajat, five representatives of the
\nfarmers were later received by Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi. During
\nthe meeting, which was also attended by Bogor legislative council
\nspeaker Eman Akman, Eddy said he was unfamiliar with the dispute.<\/p>\n
He admitted he was the deputy Bogor regent when the dispute
\nerupted, but claimed \"I did not know much about it.<\/p>\n
\"It's better for you to ask about the matter to the commission
\non human rights. Don't ask me anything about it as I'm afraid
\nI'll make mistakes\".<\/p>\n
Chepy and the other representatives pledged to visit Bogor
\nRegent Eddie Yoso Martadipura and the human rights commission to
\ndiscuss the case. \"But we don't know when,\" Chepy said.<\/p>\n
He was among residents entrusted to settle the case in the
\nearly 1990s, but he was in jail at the time the settlement was
\nreached. He was found guilty of defaming a director of PT
\nSuryamas Duta Makmur, the developer of the elite housing complex.<\/p>\n
\"I was jailed twice, the first time for one year and the
\nsecond for seven months,\" Chepy said. (24\/jun\/hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogor-farmers-rally-for-more-compensation-1447893297",
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