Revised Agrarian Law demanded

Revised Agrarian Law demanded

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of farmers and
fishermen in the province marched to the provincial council
office on Monday demanding revisions to the 1960 Agrarian Law
which they described as "unjust".

The protesters grouped in the People's Committee for Agrarian
Renewal (KRSPA) said the People's Consultative Assembly in
Jakarta should issue a regulation to revise the law.

"The law has oppressed small farmers and fishermen since
Soeharto's period. We need protection," Supriansyah, the
protesters spokesman, said.

He cited the 26 land disputes in the province since the
Agrarian Law came into effect. "The people's property in the
village of Arassoe, Cina district in Bone was arbitrarily taken
over by state-owned plantation company PTPN XIV. The Wirabuana
Military Command, too, has also stolen people's land in the
village of Ballewe, and the illegal takeover of villages and rice
fields for the construction of the controversial Bili-Bili dam,"
Supriansyah recalled.

He claimed that the Law seemed to legalize appropriation of
people's land despite prior ownerships.

None of the councillors met the farmers in the protest which
ended quietly later in the day. (27/sur)