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)