Farmers get low compensation

Farmers get low compensation

YOGYAKARTA: Political observer Loekman Soetrisno said the low
rate of land compensation here has made poor farmers even poorer.

The lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University told a seminar on
human resources and economic here yesterday that if the trend
continues, "the development of housing or industrial estates will
escalate the process of impoverishment of the people".

Loekman expressed concern over the rampantly unfair practices
of land acquisition during the past year.

"It's time for the government to start the campaign to better
protect farmers whose lands are to be used for housing or
industrial estate development projects," he told Antara.

"The protection is needed so that farmers can have equal
bargaining power with the developers," he said. (swe)