Transmigrants demand compensation

JAKARTA: Some 100 Javanese transmigrants rallied on Monday to demand the government meet its promise to pay Rp 7.5 million in compensation to each of the families.

The protesters represented 219 families who were forced to flee their resettlement area in Setia Bakti district in Aceh last January due to security concerns.

Sukijo, the coordinator of the rally, said Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea had promised the transmigrants help to return to their homes throughout Java, and provide compensation funds.

The transmigrants, mostly coffee farmers, have been living at the ministry-owned Transito Building in East Jakarta.

They vowed to stay at Jacob's office until he returns from a working visit to Bali and East Nusa Tenggara. -- Antara