Residents protest land dispute

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Thousands of farmers from six regencies in this province have occupied Merdeka Medan field here since Wednesday to demand settlement of 534 land dispute cases.

The move was backed by the local branch of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) and another non-governmental organization, the Bitra Indonesia Foundation.

The provincial administration has promised to look into the matter, but the farmers pledged to maintain their sit-in until concrete solutions were taken. (39/edt)