Soeharto, return our land!

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Some 250 families of the Lainea village, Kendari district, staged a protest demanding former president Soeharto return the 4,000 hectare land controlled by a cotton industry, PT Kapas Indah Indonesia, owned by the late Tien Soeharto, Antara reported on Monday.

Spokesman H.B.M. Yunus said the claim was filed in 1985, but it was turned down by then-governor Andi Lala, who said locals' demands were baseless, because the land was owned by the state.

"Since then, people have never demanded their land openly. They were forced (to accept it)," he said. Residents had even turned down an offer from lawyers to help them with their case, Yunus said.

"But now, after the New Order has been defeated. they have regained their courage."

He said for the first phase residents were only demanding Pak Harto return the land controlled since 1977.

The company could not be reached for further confirmation.