Soeharto unmoved by protesting farmers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto on Thursday refused to
\nmeet with about 100 Kedungombo farmers who marched to his mansion
\nin Kalitan, Surakarta, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The farmers, whose land was forcibly taken over by the
\ngovernment in the early 1990s for a dam project in Boyolali, said
\nthey wanted to tell Soeharto the megaproject had caused them deep
\nmisery.<\/p>\n
They added they wished to ask him to help them out of their
\ndistress. They staged a sit-in on a road near the mansion.<\/p>\n
\"Explain to us about our land. We have been living like
\nvagrants for the past 10 years,\" one of the farmers shouted.<\/p>\n
Demonstrators dispersed an hour later when Surakarta Police
\nchief Col. Zainal Abidin told them Soeharto's tight schedule
\nprevented him from meeting them.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Harto is very busy now,\" Zainal told them.<\/p>\n
Soeharto and his children arrived in Surakarta on Monday to
\ncelebrate the Idul Fitri holiday. They held a religious service
\non Thursday evening in memory of Soeharto's wife Tien. She died
\n1,000 days ago on April 28, 1996.<\/p>\n
Soeharto inaugurated in May 1991 the Kedungombo dam which cost
\nRp 152 billion (US$78.3 million based on contemporary exchange
\nrates).<\/p>\n
The World Bank-funded dam attracted national and international
\nattention as farmers, supported by students and human rights
\nactivists, accused the government of intimidation and forcible
\nevictions.<\/p>\n
Soeharto branded the farmers who refused to surrender their
\nland mbalelo, or rebels.<\/p>\n
At least 5,268 families were forced to move and offered low
\ncompensation for their 9,529 hectares.<\/p>\n
\"It's a peaceful demonstration (on Thursday), they just wanted
\nto discuss their fate with Soeharto,\" said a local resident.<\/p>\n
The farmers' protest was the second since Soeharto arrived in
\nKalitan on Monday. His arrival was greeted by a dozen of
\nprotesters who demanded he be tried for alleged abuse of power
\nduring his 32-year rule.<\/p>\n
The Soehartos are scheduled to visit Tien's grave in
\nGiribangun on Friday. About 40 guests were also expected in
\nSurakarta and to stay at the Novotel Hotel.<\/p>\n
Soeharto and his 150-strong entourage will return to Jakarta
\nafter the visit. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-unmoved-by-protesting-farmers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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