No trespassing on Soeharto land

From time to time I visit the family of a friend who has a bungalow in Lebak Ciheurang, West Java. There are two ways to get there: One is much longer and the road is very winding and rough. The second is through a gate that goes past a group of houses connected to pak Soeharto's cattle ranch. These houses are for his staff (most likely supervisory, as the houses are very nice). This route used to be kept locked but since Soeharto was deposed the gate has been opened, thus saving 30 minutes off the travel time for visitors to the area.

I was going to visit my friend at the bungalow recently. I arrived at the gate at 10:30 p.m. and was denied entrance. The guards, of which there were four, stated that this was private land and that it was too late to enter. I said that if I had to return to the main road to take the other route it would add an hour to my trip. After some haggling, I was allowed to pass.

Hasn't the time come to start doing something about the second ex-president and his family's holdings? It seems they're low on the priority list of alleged corruptors for punishment. The cattle are all the very finest and are well looked after. Wouldn't it be in the best interests of the people to have the government take over this ranch and have the profits go to the poor whose land was stolen when the ranch was established?

Other Soeharto family members also own large tracts in that area. One has built numerous glass houses in which paprika and tomatoes are grown. He also has a large tea plantation. The land up until recently was guarded by members of the army's Special Forces. As a way of paying back some of the country's debt that was incurred by this family wouldn't it be better for the government to take over this farm and reap the profits? Or are we to keep on making the Soeharto family one of the richest in the world?

Who is paying to keep this road closed? Who pays for the guards? What are they guarding?

AMINATUN

Jakarta