Minister in hot water for condoning looting

Minister in hot water for condoning looting

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Food and Agriculture A.M.
Saefuddin was roundly panned yesterday over his reported remarks
that looting could be tolerated in particular circumstances.

Though avoiding direct comment on Saefuddin, Minister/State
Secretary Akbar Tandjung reiterated the government's stance that
it would not tolerate looters for any reason and under any
condition.

"Looting cannot be tolerated at all, it is a violation of
laws," Akbar said before attending a presentation of three
political bills, including on general elections, at the State
Guest House.

Media Indonesia daily quoted Saefuddin as saying Monday that
he could tolerate looters if they did it only to satisfy their
hunger.

"I think, as long as they only loot 5 percent, it is still
tolerable," the daily quoted him as saying.

The comment sparked anger from various groups yesterday,
including his party boss, chairman of the United Development
Party (PPP) Ismail Hasan Metareum.

"May be he was just kidding, but he must remember that he is
already a minister," Ismail said.

Leaders of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI)
demanded Saefuddin's resignation, saying it would be dangerous to
allow such a reckless minister to remain in office.

Saefuddin himself denied the report, claiming his remarks were
taken out of context by the reporter.

"I never said it like that," he said.

It was the second looting-related issue to blow up in recent
days.

At the weekend, several government officials were reportedly
angered by an Antara news agency report that people looted
cooking oil from a cooperative stand Saturday just after
President B.J. Habibie opened a two-day cheap goods bazaar.

Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono
subsequently denied the report. Adi said the stand owner decided
to give the oil freely to the mass of buyers in order to prevent
chaos.

The incident occurred only one day after Armed Forces (ABRI)
Commander Gen. Wiranto threatened stern measures against rampant
looters.

"Even if we are in a critical condition, we must never
tolerate crime," Wiranto said.

His stance was seconded by National Police Chief Lt. Col.
Roesmanhadi, who threatened firm action against looters and also
said an investigation was underway into several lootings.

"We have deployed our personnel in areas considered prone to
looting," he said in a media briefing at his headquarters. "For
instance, we have put certain high-ways around Jakarta down to
Cilegon, Tangerang, Karawang and Bekasi under 24-hour
surveillance to prevent freight robberies and cases such as
shrimp stealing."

Golf

Meanwhile, residents of Lakarsantri village west of Surabaya
entered their fifth day of occupation of the Ciputra Golf course,
which they contend was originally their land until it
appropriated wrongfully by the management, PT Citra Raya, in
1994.

The company said it bought the land from the residents for Rp
9,000 (less than US$1 at current rates) per square meter when the
average market price was actually Rp 3,000. Residents are now
demanding Rp 300,000 to Rp 700,000 per square meter.

Residents have begun planting trees, fishing in ponds and
relaxing on the land.

In the West Java village of Cimacan, a two-hour drive from
Jakarta, about 200 farmers raided a 33-hectare golf course they
claimed was acquired by intimidation from them at Rp 30 per
square meter 11 years ago.

They are demanding that PT Bandung Asri Mulya and the local
administration which helped in its acquirement unconditionally
relinquish the property.

Spearheaded by student activists, the farmers sneaked into he
golf course through the adjacent hills Monday night to evade
security forces who blocked the main entrance after learning of
the protest plan.

They put up banners, dug up the soil, cut down trees and
planted cassava and soybeans at the scenic Cibodas Golf Course.
Armed with hoes and knives, they charged the government and
military used intimidation in the 1987 land acquisition process.

At mid-day, dozens of women and children of the 287 families
disputing the property joined the noisy protest under the
watchful eyes of police officers in riot gear.

"We want this land relinquished. We won't negotiate on
substitute land or additional compensation which the company may
offer," said the farmers' spokesman Komar during a tense
negotiation with local officials on the course.

Deputy Cianjur regent Dudung Soleh suggested the farmers
should ask the Supreme Court to reopen the case if they were
unhappy with its recent decision favoring the company.

The meeting ended abruptly when the farmers refused to listen
to the officials. The villagers continued digging up the land as
security forces did nothing to stop them. (24/26/pan/prb/swe/edt)