Farmers complain of continuous harassment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Twenty five farmers from Garut in West Java who
\nare fighting to defend their land from being acquired by a major
\nplantation company, made a return visit to the National
\nCommission on Human Rights yesterday, saying that they have been
\ncontinuously harassed after their first visit last June.<\/p>\n
The farmers, who said they represented around 300 farmers
\naffected by the plantation procurement plan, complained that the
\nplantation company has sent thugs to their village in Sukawangi
\nto intimidate them into rescinding their complaint with the
\ncommission file on June 30.<\/p>\n
Gatot Triyanto of the Bandung Legal Aid Institute, who
\naccompanied the farmers, said the thugs had even made death
\nthreats to seven of the farmers.<\/p>\n
One of the farmers had to flee his home fearing for his own
\nsafety, Gatot said.<\/p>\n
Two commission members, Bambang Soeharto and Sugiri, who met
\nthe farmers promised to look into their complaints and contact
\nthe various parties involved.<\/p>\n
The dispute covers an area of some 97 hectares which PT
\nHargasari, a Garut based company, wants to acquire to develop a
\ntea plantation.<\/p>\n
The farmers, who insisted on their rights to till the land by
\nvirtue of occupation since 1907, said the company has started to
\nmove into the area, taking over their plots still planted with
\nvegetables.<\/p>\n
They said that the company's owner, identified as Li Bok Sui
\nalias Lukas Suryadi, is insisting that he has the title of the
\nland.<\/p>\n
The human rights commission yesterday also received the visit
\nof another delegation from Tanah Merah, Plumpang, North Jakarta,
\nwho are also embroiled in a drawn-out land dispute, this one with
\nthe local government.<\/p>\n
The 25 people, who are representing about 300 families, said
\nthat the North Jakarta Mayoralty on Thursday sent its officers to
\nburn their tents. Delegation spokesman Husni Thamrin said this
\nwas not the first time that their tents had been burnt.<\/p>\n
The 300 families are fighting against the state oil company
\nPertamina for the plot in Plumpang. Their case has been referred
\nto the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The human rights commission promised to investigate their
\ncomplaint. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/farmers-complain-of-continuous-harassment-1447893297",
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