Police investigate series of attacks

Police investigate series of attacks

BANDUNG: The police are investigating a number of attacks by
armed mobs on Dawuan villagers living on the Condong plantation
in Garut, West Java.

"So far there has been no official report from the Pakenjeng
Police, but we will investigate the case thoroughly," West Java
Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Dade Achmad said on Thursday.

Thirteen representatives of the 176 villagers asked the West
Java Council on Wednesday for protection following attacks on
their homes on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 by unidentified people.

"We don't know why the attack occurred ... suddenly the armed
mob just attacked and torched our houses," 30-year-old Agus said
during a hearing with Councilor Maky Yuliawan.

Agus said his and 47 other families were living on the 64-
hectare plot of land in Condong before the 7,000-hectare Condong
plantation was established.

Another resident, Maryadi, 40, said their ancestors had been
living in that location since 1937.

The villagers, however, admitted ownership of the land was
being disputed by the owners of the plantation.

According to the villagers, a villa allegedly belonging to
former president Soeharto's family is located on the plantation,
though this could not be immediately confirmed. (25/edt)