North Sumatra farmers lodge protest in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of farmers from North Sumatra who have
\nbeen locked in a long and often fierce land battle with the local
\nmilitary, called yesterday for the intervention of the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Eleven people from the Martoba subdistrict in Pematang Siantar
\nmayoralty also asked for the House's protection against
\nintimidation allegedly made by some local military officers.<\/p>\n
The 11 villagers said they represented more than 2,000
\nfamilies who have been fighting against the Pantai Timur Military
\nDistrict Command over the 60-hectare land which they insist
\nrightly belongs to them.<\/p>\n
The delegation, led by Elmi Simbolon, met with the House's
\nworking team for land conflicts of the Commission II. The members
\npresent included Hatta Mustafa, Hasanuddin, Mekka Hayade,
\nPandapotan Nasution, Tjahyo Kumolo, Palar Batubara, from the
\nGolkar faction, and Ambo Eteng Amin from the Armed Forces
\nfaction.<\/p>\n
"We want to have our land back or fair compensation," Simbolon
\ntold the House members. "We also want protection against
\nintimidation from certain local officers."<\/p>\n
She said the dispute went back to 1976 when the military
\ncommand came and claimed itself the rightful owner of the land.
\nIt reached its peak when the military finally moved in to force
\nthe residents out.<\/p>\n
Simbolon said the people have lived on and tilled the land for
\nseveral generations, some dating back to 1930 during the Dutch
\ncolonial rule.<\/p>\n
"We have with us provisional land certificates, issued by the
\nSimalungun regent in 1969," she said, adding that the Simalungun
\nregent was also chairman of the regency's committee for land
\nreform at the time.<\/p>\n
Rosmawati Purba, a delegation member, said they had regularly
\npaid the land and property taxes until last November when they
\nwere evicted from the land.<\/p>\n
House member Hatta Mustafa said the commission would raise the
\nmatter with State Minister of Agrarian Affairs\/Chairman of the
\nNational Land Agency Soni Harsono at the first opportunity.<\/p>\n
Ambo Eteng Amin also offered to prepare for a meeting between
\nthe delegation and top officials in the Armed Forces in Jakarta.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/north-sumatra-farmers-lodge-protest-in-jakarta-1447893297",
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