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.