Farmers burn 21 storehouses

JEMBER, East Java: Hundreds of peasants picketed the regency office on Tuesday where their 13 representatives were questioned by local military chief Lt. Col. Affandi on their alleged involvement in the burning down of 21 tobacco storehouses on Sunday.

They gathered in a show of solidarity for the delegates whom they feared would be detained by the military on charges of burning down the storehouses belonging to the state-owned plantation company, PTP-27.

There was no incident. The commander promised to handle the issue amicably and to hear "all aspirations," Antara reported.

The authorities questioned the farmers based on an eyewitness' account that he saw a group of people set the buildings on fire on Sunday.

Jember police chief Lt. Col. Budi Utomo theorized that the burning of the storehouses might have to do with the land use conflict between the peasants and the PTP-27.

He declined to give more details of the dispute. (anr)