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)