Palu – Hundreds of farmers and NGO activists in Toili district, Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi, staged a rally Tuesday to demand ownership of their farms that they said were being claimed by PT Kurnia Luwuk Sejati (KLS).

Carrying banners demanding the return of their fields, they began their rally in front of the governor's office, then proceeded to the provincial legislative council, provincial police headquarters and the provincial office of the National Commission on Human Rights, before returning to the legislative council.

"We will spend the night here until our demands are fulfilled," said protester Muhammad Masykur.

The case began last September when KLS evicted the farmers from the disputed 275 hectares of land, arguing that it owned the property.

The farmers, however, claimed the land was theirs because the company, which initially granted concessions to 100 migrant families, later asked them to pay for the fields in installments, citing financial problems.