Firm 'intimidates' Cibitung residents

Firm 'intimidates' Cibitung residents

BEKASI (JP): Some 900 families from two villages in the
Cibitung district, 30 kilometers east of here, are accusing a
local developer of intimidation.

According to the residents, the developer, PT Bekasi Fajar,
has built small trenches around each plot they want to buy from
local residents. "The residents now find it difficult to go out
and into their residential areas. The developer is trying to
force us to sell our land at a set price -- their price," a
spokesman for the residents said.

PT Bekasi Fajar, which has permission to appropriate 500
hectares of land for an industrial estate in the area, has raised
its original rate from Rp 15,000 to Rp 30,000 per square meter,
but the families want between Rp 65,000 and Rp 75,000 per square
meter.

The Bekasi regency sent a letter in June asking the developer
to stop constructing trenches and filling them with water, said
the spokesman, who asked not to be identified.

"After receiving the letter, the developer halted its
activities. However, soon after, it started to build more," the
spokesman said. "Many of us have had to build makeshift bridges
to cross the trenches."

Cibitung District Head Wirya confirmed the developer's
negligence. He had also sent a written warning to PT Bekasi
Fajar, who, he said, "continues building trenches."

Wirya said the company, owner of the MM 2100 Industrial Town,
has constructed 90 factories, 34 of which are in operation. "The
factories employ at least 16,000 workers, mostly local
inhabitants, and have gained a total of US$ 750 million in
foreign exchange," he said.

Bekasi Fajar executives deny that the trenches are meant to
intimidate the residents into selling their land.

Winaryo, the company president, said: "We don't want our plots
to be inundated by rain waters. The trenches surrounding the
plots are needed".

He said his company has already bought several plots in the
area from families willing to sell.

However, he said, land brokers have persuaded most residents
to not sell their land at the price set by the developers.
(12/sur)