Villagers protest lack of compensation by developer

Villagers protest lack of compensation by developer

JAKARTA (JP): About 150 Babakan Madang villagers in Bogor
protested at Bogor City Council Thursday against the clearance of
their farm lands by a developer without any reasonable
compensation.

The villagers were upset about their lands being valued far
below market prices.

The developer -- PT Suris Adi Jalesveva -- offered only Rp
3,700 (US$1.51) per square meter as compared to market prices of
between Rp 20,000 and Rp 25,000, the Antara news agency reported
yesterday.

The developer was licensed to develop 200 hectares of the area
into a housing complex, the villagers said.

Farmers sold 40 hectares of the development area, reportedly
after they were forced by officials of district and subdistrict
offices, the news agency said.

They said other villagers turned down the offer and demanded
the developer to raise compensation in line with existing market
prices.

"If the developer declines to give reasonable compensation, we
will not let the firm buy our land," a villager said.

Besides protesting low compensation, the villagers also sought
help from both the city administration and the City Council
because they claimed they were intimidated by local officials to
accept the offer from the developer.

Musmal Sulaeman, second assistant to Bogor regency's
secretary, promised to check the villagers' complaints and try to
settle the case with the developer amicably.

"Help from the city administration and City Council is badly
needed to help us receive reasonable compensation," the villagers
said. (hhr)