JP\/4\/let12<\/p>\n
No trespassing:
\nSoeharto land<\/p>\n
From time to time I visit the family of my friend who has a
\nbungalow in Lebak Ciheurang, West Java. There are two ways to
\nenter this road: One is much longer and on a very winding rough
\nroad. The second is through a gate that goes through a group of
\nhouses connected to pak Soeharto's cattle ranch. These houses are
\nfor his staff (most likely supervisory, as the houses are very
\nnice). This route used to be kept locked but since Soeharto was
\ndeposed the gate has been opened, thus saving 30 minutes off
\ntravel time for visitors to the area.<\/p>\n
I was going to visit my friend at the bungalow recently. I
\narrived at the gate at 10:30 p.m. and was denied entrance. The
\nguards, of which there were four, stated that this was private
\nland and that it was too late to enter. I said that if I had to
\nreturn to the main road to take the other route it would add an
\nhour on my trip. After some haggling I was able to use the gates.<\/p>\n
Hasn't the time come to start doing something about the second
\nex-president and his family's holdings? It seems they're low on
\nthe priority list of alleged corruptors that are being punished.
\nThe cattle farm reaches over 10,000 hectares. the cattle are all
\nthe very finest and well maintained. Wouldn't it be in the best
\ninterests of the people to have the government take over this
\nranch and have the profits go to the poor whose land was stolen
\nfor this ranch to be built?<\/p>\n
Other family members also own many hectares in that area. One
\nhas built numerous glass houses in which one member grows paprika
\nand tomatoes. He also has a large tea plantation bordering the
\nvegetables. The land up till recently was guarded by members of
\nthe special forces. As a way of paying back some of th country's
\ndebt that was incurred by this family wouldn't it be better for
\nthe government to take over this farm and reap the profits? Or
\nare we to keep making Soeharto's one of the richest families in
\nthe world?<\/p>\n
Who is paying to keep this road closed? Who pays for the
\nguards? What are they guarding?<\/p>\n
AMINATUN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4let12-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }