Farmers meet in Kedungombo

Farmers meet in Kedungombo

YOGYAKARTA: Farmers from Yogyakarta and the southern part of
Central Java gathered for a regional congress in the disputed
area of Kedungombo, Sragen, on Tuesday.

The congress aims at setting up the founding of a farmers'
organization, an advocate of the farmers said.

Winarso of the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute said on Monday
that at least 200 farmers attended the rare event, which ends on
Thursday.

"From previous meetings the farmers concluded that one answer
to their many problems was to form a regional organization,"
Winarso said, citing land disputes with state enterprises and
other parties victimizing farmers.

A prolonged dispute in Kedungombo was triggered by the
eviction of whole villages to make way for a dam here.

The event is facilitated by the Institute and the Cultural
Development Foundation. Popular figures, including Mustofa Bisri
of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, is scheduled
to address the gathering. (44)