Violence at Jenggawah

The name Jenggawah has surfaced again. As in 1978, farmers again unleashed their fury in Jenggawah in the Jember district, East Java. And just as 17 years ago, the farmers were demanding settlement for their land which was taken over by the government- owned agricultural estate PTP-XXVII.

This land dispute, which had been left to fester for 17 years, finally erupted into acts of violence committed by the farmers. They burned down barns and houses owned by PTP personnel. The violence died down for a few days, but than flared up again.

To conciliate the farmers the chief of the Brawijaya military command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, together with the East Java chief of police, Maj. Gen. Rusmanhadi, went down to Jenggawah for a discussion with the farmers. Still, the fury erupted again as no clear settlement was in sight.

It is easy to imagine how the farmers will fare if the land which is their only source of livelihood is taken away from them without giving them any alternative means of living. As their self-control is lost in this search for alternatives which are nowhere in sight, acts of violence such as those that have occurred at Jenggawah are easily committed. This would be all the more true if the land take-over is done in an attitude of arrogance.

We do not want to be overhasty in concluding that the fault in the Jenggawah case lies with PTP-XXVII. What we do regret is that the search for a settlement between the farmers and PTP has been allowed to drag on for so long. The violence would not have occurred if only a judicious and speedy settlement could have been achieved.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta