Jobless plunder bamboo fields

Jobless plunder bamboo fields

BANDUNG: Hundreds of people, mostly those who lost their jobs
after their companies went bankrupt, have plundered a bamboo
plantation on Mt. Manglayang, Bandung regency, a report said
yesterday.

Plantation rangers said they could not do anything to stop the
banditry because it involved great numbers of people from nearby
villages who claimed they need the bamboo to sell so they could
survive after being dismissed.

Antara reported that the state-owned plantation company,
Perhutani, and residents had lost dozens of hectares of bamboo
plants. The thieves left only the shoots.

Enggit Kusdani, a ranger, said the plunderers ignored
warnings, apparently because they realized they greatly
outnumbered the officers.

Some people involved in the looting said they hoped the
upcoming independence Day on Aug. 17 would bring them a windfall
because people would need a pole to raise the red-white flag.

They said they would sell each bamboo pole for between Rp 500
and Rp 1,000. (pan)