Haidir Anwar Tanjung/BI & GB, Pekanbaru – Up to a hundred people from the village of Okura, Bukit Raya sub-district, Pekanbaru, Riau, have set up makeshift tents at the entrance of PT Surya Inti Fariraya. They are picketing the company in order to receive compensation for land that was forcefully taken from them in 1989.

Regretfully, no representatives from the company have met the villagers thus far. The company's attitude is only fuelling the resolve of the demonstrators. The crowd was seen shouting and conducting speeches at the front of the factory in the provincial capital of Pekan Baru. Security guards and factory workers were seen to safeguarding the entrance of the factory.

The picket sprang up two days ago. The villagers are demanding that PT Surya Inti Fariraya pay them compensation after PT Surya Dumai Group, a subsidiary company of PT Surya Inti Fariraya, illegally seized 1,397 hectares in 1989.

A community leader representing the villagers, Abdul Hamid, said that the land occupied by the company used to be full of rubber plantations, vegetables and even a public cemetery.

"Now the fields have become palm oil plantations," Hamid said unable to hide his disappointment. He further explained that the disputed area used to belong to 43 families. Many of the original owners have passed away and their descendants have resolved to continue their struggle for compensation.

Hamid said that the villagers have been asked the company repeatedly to compensate them for the land. "Our demand has not been fulfilled," said Hamid adding that during the New Order regime of President Suharto they were prevented from doing so. He also claimed that the company used military personnel to terrorise the villagers.