Tapos ranch gives land to residents

BOGOR (JP): PT Rejo Sari Bumi, the company which manages former president Soeharto's Tri-S Tapos ranch in the hills around Ciawi south of here, has agreed to hand over part of its land to people residing in nearby villages.

An executive of the firm, identified as I Made S., said on Sunday that the decision to give local people part of the 751- hectare ranch was aimed at helping to resolve a long standing land dispute between the company and residents of nearby villages.

"We have agreed to hand over part of our land to the people as long as it is done in line with existing regulations. We want a formal agreement," Made said.

"The plan to hand over the land is expected to stop local residents from encroaching onto other parts of the ranch," he said, adding that the total area to be handed over would be decided between local residents and the company at a later date.

On Wednesday, hundreds of residents went to PT Rejo Sari Bumi's office to demand that the firm return their lands, which they claim the company seized using force during the New Order era.

PT Rejo Sari Bumi first began to operate in the area in 1974 with the aim of breeding high-quality livestock. A number of Soeharto's children own shares in the ranch management company.

After Soeharto resigned on May 21, dozens of local residents raided the ranch and staked out land claims on its turf. (24/hhr)