Farmers protest at university

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)