One dies, nine injured over ancestral land

SURABAYA: One person died and nine were injured during a clash between Police and demonstrators in front of clove plantation company PT Perkebunan Cengkih Branggah Banaran, Coko subdistrict, Blitar, some 130 kilometers southwest of here.

The demonstration was brought about by the failure of negotiations between Klalak village residents and Perkebunan Cengkih.

Residents had demanded what they claimed were 235 hectares of ancestral land under the ownership of Perkebunan Cengkih be returned to them.

The clash started when some 300 demonstrators carrying clubs, machetes, rocks, and gasoline gathered in front of the company's office Sunday morning.

The mob then started to hurl stones when police arrived and proceeded to try and burn down the Perkebunan Cengkih office.

"We've tried to be persuasive but the mob started pelting stones at us, so we had to shoot where it was not fatal," Head of the Blitar Police Lt. Col. Anang Iskandar told The Jakarta Post.

But at least one person, Nurhasyim, died at Mardi Waluyo Air Force Hospital in Blitar.

There has been no explanation on the cause of death.(nur/10)