Fri, 16 Sep 1994

Land dispute drags on

SEMARANG: The Semarang Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has filed a petition with the local court to counter the government's proposal for a review of a Supreme Court ruling which awarded 34 villagers damages for land they gave up to make way for the giant Kedungombo reservoir.

The LBH said in its petition that the government has no valid reason to ask for a review of the ruling which, technically, is only permissible in light of fresh evidence.

The Supreme Court ruling ordered the government to pay Rp 50,000 per square meter of land, as compared to the Rp 4,000 offered by the government and Rp 10,000 sought by the farmers. In addition, the government was also ordered to pay Rp 2 billion in damages to the farmers.

The government argues in its petition that the Supreme Court award even exceeded what was being sought by the farmers.

LBH however said it did not see anything wrong with the court ruling. (har/emb)