Thousands still squat in forests

Thousands still squat in forests

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A transmigration official has
promised that his office will try to resettle 6,835 families of
slash-and-burn farmers living inside the province's forests,
threatening the their environment.

Antara quoted Tigor Sinaga, the head of the provincial office
of the Ministry of Transmigration, as saying here Thursday that
16,913 other families were squatting on the forests' fringes.

His office is launching a campaign to encourage the squatters
to move to Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya and other
provinces.

The office has promised to give families which transmigrate
voluntarily a house, clean water, land and seeds.

About 10,000 families have moved to other provinces since the
transmigration project began in 1984. (swe)