Hundreds of farmers left homeless, jobless

BOGOR (JP): Hundreds of farmers in three different hamlets in Bogor regency were left homeless and jobless as their 11-hectare plot of land was forcibly taken from them in compliance with a Cibinong District court ruling.

The homeless farmers included 80 residents of Cinangneng village in Ciampea district, 50 residents of Petir village and 60 others from Purwasari village in Dermaga district.

The head of Petir village, Omang Rohmana, who gave shelter to some farmers and their families, confirmed the incident on Tuesday and said that the land was actually granted to the farmers by a local resident Anda in 1983.

However, a man, identified as Ahmad, claiming to be Anda's heir, filed a lawsuit at the Cibinong District Court to reclaim the land. The court issued the verdict on Friday requiring the farmers to leave their houses and land on which they depended for their livelihood.

Dozens of police and military personnel accompanied court officials to execute the court ruling.

Ahmad, who also joined in the eviction of the farmers, reportedly brought along several plainclothes security personnel who ransacked houses and property of the farmers to force them to leave.

As of late Tuesday, Ahmad was not available for comment. (21)