Levy on land certificates opposed

BENGKULU: Hundreds of families in the regency of Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu province are protesting against a levy imposed on the issuance of land certificates here.

"We're asked to pay around Rp 250,000 (US$26) by staff here whereas officially we the fee is only Rp 20,000 (US$2) for the duty stamps," said Harun, a resident in the village of Belitar Muka on Friday.

If the land's value is below Rp 10 million, he said, the land certificate costs only Rp 20,000 for duty stamps.

Despite the regulation, an official with the Agrarian office (BPN) in Rejang Lebong demands between Rp 150,000 to Rp 250,000 from each family.

Idrus, a local community leader, said that officials at the BPN office often imposed illegal levies, but local people were afraid to disclose it. -- Antara