Farmers protest at university

BANDUNG: At least 600 farmers from Arjasari village in Banjaran, Bandung regency, rallied at Padjajaran University on Tuesday to stake their claim over a piece of land currently occupied by the state university.

The farmers demanded the university return the 200-hectare plot of land, saying they wanted to cultivate it in order to survive the economic crisis.

Since 1982, the university has used the land for studies on horticultural development, based on an agreement with the farmers.

Spokesman for the university Hadi Arifin said the agreement also stipulated that the farmers were to be employed on between 50 hectares and 100 hectares of the plot. Hadi added the accord was renewed in August on a profit-sharing basis.

"We believe that the protesters are not aware of the agreement, or else somebody has incited them because nothing wrong has happened for the past 20 years," Hadi said. (25/lup)