Villagers reject compensation

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)