Dayaks give land for free

Dayaks give land for free

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Dayak tribespeople in two
villages in Hulu Sungai Utara regency agreed to give up some
48,000 hectares of their land to the government without asking
for compensation.

The land surrendered has been designated for a number of
government social welfare projects, including the construction of
roads and places of worship, the Antara news agency reported. The
Armed Forces will help in the construction as part of its civic
program.

"We agreed to give up this land inherited from our ancestors
without asking for compensation for the sake of progress in our
villages, said Syarkawi, head of one of the villages affected by
the projects, during a meeting with Deputy Governor Hasan Aman.

The local government had apparently earmarked Rp 109 million
in compensation for the land.

The two villages, Menantang and Buntut Pelanduk, on the sloped
of the Meratus Range have populations of 676 and 35 respectively.
They are classified as poor villages. (emb)