An international action is immediately necessary to support the farmers whose right to feed themselves is threatened. Please address polite letters to the President, requesting her to investigate into the matter and ensure that the land be returned to the peasant farmers. Copies should also be sent to the victims´ support groups.
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In rural Indonesia, the majority of the population are subsistent farmers. Land is the most important means to feed oneself. 49 peasant farmers living in Cibaliung village are struggling over their land and right to food. In November 2001, local police forces forcibly arrested 49 peasant farmers living in Cibaliung village, destroyed their crops and burned their houses. Later at the police station, they were theatened by the local police that if they did not leave the place immediately, they would face life-long imprisonment. Even today, 9 out of 49 peasants are still being held at Pandeglang police station.
Prior to 1980, the peasants‘ life in Cibaliung was quite prosperous: they were sustaining their livelihoods by growing paddy rice and crops. This situation, however, changed soon after the implementation of the reforestation plan of 1980. Under this governmental reforestation plan, the farmers were forced to plant trees on their land. The local government, with the help of the Indonesian Army, implemented the plan against the will of the farmers living in the area. As the years went by and the forested area expanded, the area alloted for cultivation diminished. At the same time, Perum Perhutani began claiming all of this land, amounting to some 13,000 hectares. However, there are legal documents proving that the whole area belongs to the peasant farmers. These documents include: land titles given to the farmers, a map of the area which indicates that there was no forest in Cibaliung prior to 1980s.
The peasant farmers were gradually thrown into poverty as their harvest declined. They began discussing about what action should be taken in order to defend their rights to their lands claimed by Perum Perhutani. In 1999, about 300 local families attempted to occupy 100 hectares of the land. These efforts, however, were opposed by Perum Perhutani. Although the peasants were able to gain 100 hectares of their land back, the price they paid was high: 17 of them were arrested and sentenced to between one and two years.
The incident in November 2001 indicates that the land dispute between the peasant farmers and Perum Perhutani is still persisting today. As long as Perum Perhutani is attempting to occupy the lands of the peasant farmers, a threat of forced eviction will continue for these peasant families.
FIAN Mandate
The current situation threatens the right to food of the peasant families living in Cibaliung village. By failing to secure their land tenure, or provide them with proper compensation or rehabilitation, the government of Indonesia violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in particular, the human right to feed oneself of these peasant families.
End of the Action: April, 22nd 2002
Addresses:
President Megawati Soekarno Putri
Istana Negara
Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan
Jakarta - Indoneisa
Fax: +622 13842780
+622 13844676
Copies to:
Kapolwil Banten, Kombes Pol Abdurachman
Jl. Ki Mas Jong 2
Banten - Indonesia
Fax: +622 54200303
+622 54200124
Federasi Serikat Petani Indonesia
Jl. Karya Jaya No. 176
Medan - Indonesia
Fax: +62 61 786 42 86
Email:
petani@indosat.net.id Please inform FIAN International Secretariat any response you receive to your letters
President Megawati Soekarno Putri
Istana Negara
Jl. Medan Medeka Selatan
Jakarta - Indoneisa
Fax: + 622 13842780
+ 622 13844676
Dear Mrs. President,
Recently it has come to my knowledge that crops and 67 houses were destroyed and 47 peasant farmers were arrested in November 2001 by the local police in Cibaliung village, Cibaliung Sub-District, Pandeglang Regency, Bantan Province. These peasant farmers were taken to the police station where they were interrogated for more than twenty hours without the presence of a lawyer. This incident occured as a direct consequence of the struggle between the farmers in Cibaliung village and the State Foresty Company, Perum Perhutani. Under the reforestation plan of 1980, the peasant farmers had been forced to plant trees on their land. As the years went by and the forested area expanded, the peasants‘ land alloted for cultivation diminished. At the same time, Perum Perhutani began claiming that they were the genuine land owner, although the peasant farmers hold land titles to the above mentioned land. Even today, 9 of the arrested peasants are still being held in prison.
The land alienation by the State Forest Company, Perum Perhutani violates the farmers‘ right to feed themselves. Under the human right to adequate food, which is acknowledged in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Indonesia has the obligation to respect the right to adequate food of its population. The land alienation by Perum Perhutani violates the farmers‘ right to feed themselves. As a person working for the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in particular the right to feed oneself, I would like to ask you, Mrs. President to:
- return the land taken away by Perum Perhutani;
- immediately release the 9 farmers who are still being detained in the prison;
- order an inquiry into the police action;
- compensate properties lost during the incident in November.
Please keep me informed on the measures you take in this regard.
Yours sincerely,
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