Lengkong Peasants forced by company to “have no choice”
Februari 07, 2009
[Monday, 21 January 2008] Cases of peasants and Lengkong citizens, Sukabumi, West Java reached culmination. After the long struggle to maintain the land and houses which claimed as the property of PT. Duren Estate, now the only remaining population no more than twenty people evicted to find a new place to live outside the area of the home because their houses demolished by force with the treatment haphazardly. Instead, they get the support promised compensation fund of 7 million rupiah per person. While the other is' surrender 'first only get 2 million only.The bitter pill swallowed by the peasants is associated with a variety of pressure and intimidation that back-stopping all by plantation security with the direct backed up and undisguised by officers from local police. Even up to this news was revealed, Anda - one of the people arrested since a few months ago - at this time still in detention without any clarity when will be release.
While, the amount of compensation 7 million rupiah finally agreed after passing through the complex process of bargaining. It’s recognized that the involvement of the National commission of human rights and Farmers Alliance Indonesia (API) to take a significant role in the settlement of the case.
"Our energy taken discharged, while we must face our daily needs," said Pak Amas seen often coordinate national secretariat in the API. "many people have no resistance to the pressure of people who are fearless putting pressure . Our people in a weak position, so that some of us just follow the rules now.
In a meeting held at the Komnas Ham (National commission of human right) meet the peasants and companies, and witnessed by two personnel API, the company pledged to deliver compensation to the residents and is ready to help the process of move them to a new place. "We will help, it is important that all will be completed in here and they do not go to our region, "said a representative of PT. Duren Estate.
According to the plan on 28 January 2008, the twentieth person will sign an agreement on compensation in the Sukabumi district hall. Regent own scheduled future following a promise said some time before that the government will help the cost of education the peasants’ children and the provision of public facilities. The event will also be attended by the police station Komnas, and API as organization represented by Nuruddin general secretary of Indonesian Peasant Alliance as a witness.
Is it true that the Lengkong peasants have no more choice so except the compensation?"It is not because we don’t have choices, but we are forced to have no choice," they said with a bitter tone.
