Ban on farming in Bekasi queried

Ban on farming in Bekasi queried

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of farmers in Tarumajaya village in Bekasi have questioned PT Putra Duta Mahkota's decision to ban them from working on their rice fields.

The farmers, who started cultivating the 8.1-hectare field in 1984, have not been allowed to work in the field by the company since February.

One of the farmers complained that the company does not even have the proper permits from the Bekasi regency to control the land. The documents are still being processed at the regency, Tarumajaya District Chief M. Syadeli said.

Syadeli admitted that he has given the green light to the company to build a real estate project on the land. The approval was given because the land belongs to the property of the village, whose officers have the authority to manage it as they like. (12/yns)