Farmers to sue Soeharto over Tapos cattle ranch
Farmers to sue Soeharto over Tapos cattle ranch
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of farmers from Cibedug, Bogor, plan to
sue former president Soeharto for allegedly seizing their land in
the early 1970s when he developed a sprawling cattle ranch.
Accompanied by Bogor-based Pakuan University student
activists, their representatives lobbied the National Commission
on Human Rights yesterday to assist in regaining their property.
They claimed 300 hectares of the 750-hectare Tri-S Tapos ranch
-- considered one of the country's foremost cattle-breeding
facilities -- belonged to 500 Cibedug farm families who received
no land compensation.
"We are determined to sue Soeharto. While we prepare for the
lawsuit, we hope the rights body will persuade the Bogor regent
and security authorities to allow us to farm the land," farmers'
spokesman Teddy Wibisana said.
In a desperate attempt to regain the land, the Cibedug farmers
have on three occasions tried to occupy the ranch. The latest
attempt occurred Wednesday when about 300 villagers clashed with
the ranch's security officers and were forced to retreat.
"Today we will make another try," Teddy said.
He added that thousands of residents in villages around the
Tapos ranch were suffering food shortages but were still
prohibited from farming the land.
The ranch is currently managed by PT Rejo Sari Bumi, a company
controlled by Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti
Rukmana.
A farmer and two students who tried to break up the clash were
beaten by security officers, farmers said.
According to Teddy, Cibedug villagers farmed the disputed 300
hectares between 1942 and 1972. The remaining 450 hectares
belonged to other farmers from other adjacent villages.
"They found their land bulldozed and turned into the Tapos
ranch without any compensation," he recalled.
The commission's secretary-general, Baharudin Lopa, suggested
the farmers prepare witnesses who could testify that the land was
their rightful property because they did not possess documents to
support their claim.
"Just go ahead with your plan to sue Soeharto. Probably you
will lose because you don't have (ownership) documents. But you
could win if you can prove Soeharto took your land illegally,"
Lopa said.
He also recommended that the farmers meet with Soeharto to ask
him to relinquish the land.
"It sounds impossible that Soeharto would talk to you. But if
God opens Soeharto's heart, he could return your land. Who
knows?"
Lopa said the commission would send a letter to Soeharto. "We
will send it to a citizen named Soeharto, telling him that you
demand the land." (jun)