Five hospitalized for fasting strike

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A hunger strike by farmers and students at the provincial legislature here continued on Monday as five from 15 involved were rushed to hospital.

Antara reported Monday that the five demonstrators had become unconscious after refusing food and drink for five days. They were Kisman Datuadam, 58, Haluan Tiang, 73, Robert Balia, 53, Evha, 24 and Karim Djamu, 25.

Last Thursday 42 peasants from Tolondo village in Batui district went to the legislature, 650 kilometers from their homes, demanding that members fight for their 280-hectare plot, which they said had been expropriated by a shrimp company.

The case has dragged on for 10 years and the protesters threatened to continue the strike until the company, PT Banggai Sentral Shrimp, fulfilled their demands for compensation.

They said that for the land appropriated in 1989 they were compensated Rp 30 to Rp 1,800 per square meter, and that they were ejected forcibly. A meeting of councilors with company management and related government offices is scheduled Wednesday.