Controversial issue of land compensation

Controversial issue of land compensation

From Detik

A controversial issue of land compensation in South Lampung which was reported by Detik weekly recently shocked me.

I fail to understand why the company could hurt the farmers by paying only Rp 5 per square meter. It is obvious that the company disrespects justice and has abused the farmers' rights to a proper amount of land compensation.

One more thing which left me astonished is that the governor of the province or local top government officials knew about the case. Instead of defending their rights and accommodating their aspirations, the officials even blamed the farmers for signing the agreement documents. Although the farmers have described that they were coerced into signing the documents, the officials kept blaming them.

In the colonial era, the Dutch government did not always apply such inhumane policies, so it is hard to believe that the local officials acted so cruelly toward their own countrymen.

Shouldn't they work for the people and protect them from injustice or arbitrary actions?

Is oppressing their own countrymen and abusing power the way they appreciate the great struggle of Indonesian heroes in gaining freedom and carrying out national development?

I hope that the Lampung Legislative members and the National Commission of Human Rights do not turn their face from this case and take concrete steps to uphold the farmers' rights.

GARSEMEDI BRATADIDJAJA

Subang, West Java