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)