Bekasi farmers uneasy at land grab practices

BEKASI (JP): A total of 160 farmers at the Segera Makmur village in Taruma Jaya district are uneasy because their farming land was forcefully seized by PT Truba Inti Development four months ago without giving them a fair amount of compensation money.

According to Yamin, one of the farmers, he and other farmers had been working on the land since 1967 when the land was still a marsh area. "We had been working the land for years before it was bulldozed by PT Truba," Yamin complained.

Another farmer, Suka, 65, said that three months ago he was summoned by village chief H. Saadiyah. Much to his dismay he was told by Saadiyah that the land he had cultivated for years belonged to another person.

"I was no longer allowed to cultivate it," Suka told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

He said the village chief offered him compensation of Rp 50 per square meter. "I rejected the offer."

Suka's fellow villager, Udin, 60, said he was forced to accept the compensation rate by a military officer believed to be hired by PT Truba.

He said the company apparently hired a handful of military officers to intimidate the farmers so they would surrender the land and accept the compensation offered.

"You have gained much profit from the land, so you must accept the compensation rate," Udin quoted the officer as telling him.

According to Saadiyah, 130 of the 160 farmers have agreed to accept the compensation rate set by PT Truba.

Taruma Jaya district chief Syadeli, when asked to comment on the dispute, said he has as yet no idea about the appropriation process.

"I'm not aware of the land appropriation processes since I have only been the district chief for two months," Syadeli said. (12/bas)