Farmers occupy land in Dieng

Farmers occupy land in Dieng

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: At least 65 farmers from the Dieng
Kulon village in Batur district have occupied land around the
protected Dieng area.

They have planted vegetables and potatoes on the 110-hectare
site since early this month, when 5,000 hectares of their potato
crops were destroyed by potato blight.

The farmers have occupied 30 hectares of the reserve, to the
concern of the local office of the Ministry of Education and
Culture.

An official here, Utomo, said the Dieng site housed the
temples of Bima temple, Semar temple and Dwarawati temple. The
temples are all considered sites of historical significance.

Although their village chief reprimanded them for the action,
the farmers said a staff member at the Dieng museum had allowed
them to use the site. "We have even given him some money from the
harvest," said farmer Ahmadi. (45)