Fate of Gunung Putri residents

I'm both concerned and saddened by how the residents of Gunung Putri, living not far from the Cibinong cement plant in Bogor, have been unjustly treated since the New Order era.

During the New Order era the residents had to give up the land they had inherited from their ancestors for the construction of the Jagorawi toll road. They only received Rp 25 to Rp 50 per square meter in compensation for the land.

They also had to give up their land for the construction of the Gunung Putri toll road, this time receiving Rp 2,000 per square meter in compensation, far below the market price.

Now in the reform era, fertile rice fields next to Lake Cibeureum will be appropriated -- according to village authorities and the contractor concerned, PT Mitra Dinanti Resina -- to turn the lake back into a reservoir for runoff river water to prevent flooding in Jakarta.

The authorities concerned have asked residents to give up their land for the sake of national interests. The residents refused the request, saying they possess land ownership certificates issued as far back as 1927 by the Dutch colonial administration.

The government appraised the land at between Rp 27,000 and Rp 48,000 per square meter. Then the contractor suggested giving the residents just Rp 15,000 per square meter as consolation money of sorts, arguing it did not have the money to appropriate the land.

It is strange that no funds were allocated for such a project. So, the residents have again refused the offer. Then, out of the blue in this so-called reform era, the contractor began dredging the residents' land although no agreement had been reached.

The reason for this action, according to the contractor and the village authorities, is that one or two villagers have received compensation money. In fact, they were cheated if they received the money.

So the residents concerned lodged an oral protest but the protest fell on deaf ears. The residents then wrote a letter of protest. The contractor promised to stop its work.

Since it is the reform era, we should make this case an example and teach a lesson to those people who would trample on the rights of others to turn a profit.

In a land case like this, it is only proper that the residents concerned be given proper compensation so they can buy new land.

The dredging of the lake has had a terrible effect and the rice fields can no longer be used. The residents used to be able to plant rice twice a year, and later only once a year. Now they can no longer plant rice, ending a tradition that has been going on for the last one hundred years.

POLINA BONE, Gunung Putri, West Java