Farmers want land returned

Farmers want land returned

PURWOKERTO, Central Jakarta: At least 500 farmers from Darma
Keradenan village, Banyumas regency, gathered at the regency
office on Wednesday, demanding the return of 230 hectares of land
currently occupied by the Diponegoro Military Command and private
company PT Astra Agro Niaga Jakarta.

Much of the land is being used as a cacao plantation managed
by PT Rumpun Sari Antan, a foundation managed by the military
command.

The farmers, who destroyed the gate of the regency office,
claimed the land belonged to them and demanded the military
return it to them.

They claimed the plot belonged to a Dutch man during the Dutch
colonial era. After Indonesia won its independence the government
took over the land, and since 1965 it has been managed by the
military.

It is unclear why the farmers claimed ownership of the land
only this year.

Ten of the demonstrators met with regent Aris Setiono to
discuss the matter.