Villagers reject compensation

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Around 700 residents of Sukarame subdistrict yesterday held a demonstration at the provincial legislative council, protesting a planned appropriation of their land.

Representing over 6,000 residents, the protesters said they would not accept money or any other compensation offered by PT WHP, a housing developer, because they wished to continue living in the area.

Under the watchful eyes of 50 police officers, some of the protesters were met by Mayor Suharto, legislative council head M. Sodik and chief of the local military base Col. M. Agus Salim, Antara reported.

"We'll go to court if necessary," said Waridi, one of the villagers.

A 1980 Ministry of Home Affairs decree distributed a 1,000- hectare plot of land, formerly belonging to a state-owned plantation, to a number of parties. The residents received 300 hectares; state-owned developer Perumnas, 40 hectares; WHP, 200 hectares; and the local branch of the Corps of Civil Servants, 160 hectares. The remaining 300 hectares were returned to the plantation.

In 1990, WHP accused the villagers of utilizing its portion of the land and attempted to reappropriate it. (swe)