Nipah dam project continues amid protest<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The local administration plans to resume the
\ncontroversial dam project in Nipah, Madura, off eastern Java,
\nafter it was halted for six years following a fatal 1993
\nincident.<\/p>\n
The Sampang regency's decision to continue the land
\nacquisition process for the dam project has drawn strong protest
\nfrom the Surabaya branch of Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) and the
\nrelatives of the victims, an official at the regency confirmed on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Husein, head of the regency's information office said the
\nfirst phase of the project would be to acquire 27 hectares of the
\ntotal 120 hectares of land needed for the dam project. So far 22
\nhectares have been acquired.<\/p>\n
\"The price of land before the 1993 shootings was between Rp
\n400 to Rp 500 per square meter. Now we are paying between Rp
\n2,000 to Rp 2,500 per square meter. We have spent a total of Rp
\n1.2 billion on the first phase of land acquisition,\" Husein said
\nof the project which quietly recommenced in the past few months.<\/p>\n
\"We took the pictures of the payment process just for defense
\nin case of people's protest.\"<\/p>\n
Hundred of villagers staged a demonstration against the dam
\nproject on Sept. 25, 1993. The demonstration triggered a fierce
\nclash between security forces and protesters. Three protesters
\nwere shot dead in the skirmish.<\/p>\n
Four local military and police chiefs were removed a month
\nafter the incident.<\/p>\n
The Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation protested the
\nadministration's policy of continuing the project. Anshori, a
\nmember of the foundation, said he was worried it could provoke
\ntension between villagers and the administration.<\/p>\n
He said local residents did not want the project to go ahead
\nwhile legal proceedings of the fatal shootings remained
\nunresolved.<\/p>\n
\"The men behind the incident, Lt. Col. Bagus Hinayana the then
\nregent and Lt. Col. Sugeng Wiyono then chief of the military
\ndistrict command, remain free,\" Anshori said, adding that the
\nland acquisition process had been carried out in an unfair
\nmanner.<\/p>\n
The regency's spokesman, Husein, denied Anshori's statement,
\nsaying that villagers were happy when receiving compensation
\nmoney. (nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nipah-dam-project-continues-amid-protest-1447893297",
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