Hundreds rally against dam project
Hundreds rally against dam project
BANDUNG: More than 400 people from Sumedang regency, West
Java, protested at the provincial governor's office in Bandung on
Thursday against the government's revived plan to build the
Jatigede dam.
The protesters, grouped in the Jatigede People's Communication
Forum (FKRJ), were among those to be affected by the project,
which was initiated in 1985.
They opposed the plan, saying it would harm their futures and
create social problems.
"We suggest that the project be relocated to the
Beureumbeungeut area in Cipasang village, Cibugel subdistrict,
Sumedang, because the area is less populated and barren," said
FKRJ member Asep Suryana.
Moreover, he said the compensation for communal land, where
the Jatigede dam was to be built, should have been set at between
Rp 30,000 (US$3.50) and Rp 70,000 per square meter in 1985, but
land owners received only Rp 6,800 to Rp 8,400 per square meter.
Meanwhile, West Java Governor Danny Setiawan said on Thursday
that he would receive five ministers on Friday to discuss the dam
project, which would entail the eviction of more than 7,000
families from Jatigede. --JP
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PDPI-chairman-Semarang
Murdoko to chair Central Java's PDI-P
JP/5/pdip
Murdoko to chair Central Java's PDI-P
SEMARANG: Murdoko was elected the new Central Java chairman of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on
Thursday to replace Mardijo.
Murdoko, who has served as the party's provincial deputy
treasurer, won 81 votes, defeating rivals Gatot Luprianto and
Agus Condro, who got 10 and four votes respectively.
Mardijo was fired by PDI Perjuangan leader President Megawati
Soekarnoputri for defying her instructions by contesting the
Central Java gubernatorial election on July 24.
In what many saw as an authoritarian move, Megawati tried to
block Mardijo's bid by backing the nomination of Mardiyanto, a
retired Army general, who was reelected as the governor for a
second five-year term.
Murdoko was elected to replace Mardijo as the former was
considered an impartial PDI Perjuangan figure among rival
factions within the party in Central Java. --JP