Farmers demand savings back

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): More than 5,000 clove farmers from Banyumas regency complained to the University of Gen. Soedirman on Saturday, requesting help from the institution for the return of their savings from the government.

One of the farmers, Muhammad Suharto, said the compulsory savings amounting to Rp 11 billion were still in the coffers of cooperatives under the defunct Clove Marketing and Buffer Stock Agency (BPPC). The agency -- the only body that farmers could sell their cloves to between 1991 and 1998 -- was run by Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, former president Soeharto's youngest son.

The farmers had earlier demonstrated before Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono at the university, who promised the problem would be settled soon.

Farme Suharto said the price of every kilogram of their cloves was cut by Rp 2,000 under the savings scheme.

University rector Rubiyanto Misman answered the farmers' call by setting up an advocacy team to help them. (45)