Jakarta – Following a massive protest at the Home Affairs Ministry that almost degenerated into violence, the ministry agreed to involve the Association of Indonesian Village Officials in the drafting of a bill on villages.

The agreement came after three hours of negotiations between Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi and five representatives of the association, also known as the PPDI, which has long been demanding the government designate village officials as civil servants.

"We want a civil servant clause to be included in the draft law. What is the problem? We also know that this draft law will still have to be debated at the House of Representatives," PPDI chairman Ubaidi Rosyidi said.

Earlier in the day, he said the association had already organized four similar rallies in Jakarta but had not once been able to meet with Gamawan to directly air their grievances.

PPDI secretary Mugiono Munajat said that the association would accept if the government required the officials to first undergo a test for eligibility to become civil servants.

"The reasoning that it would be difficult to make all village officials [civil servants] can actually be overcome with a government regulation. They can set criteria about length of service, age and education," Mugiono said.

He said that village officials who have devoted their life to manage the village, should be guaranteed a certain status and livelihood.

Village officials are given monthly "compensation" from regional budgets that varies according to the regions. But most of these payments are well below the local minimum wage and in most places, they are only paid every three months.

Officials also can use, whenever available, some village land. But this has to be returned once they stop serving as village officials.

As part of the protest, village officials took off their official khaki shirts and hung them on the ministry's fence or just laid them on the ground in front of the Central Jakarta complex.

The road in front of the ministry had to be closed off during the protest. The rally almost became violent after protestors began to push open the main entry gate to the ministry.

The angry officials later brought down an awning structure for a car park in front of the ministry buildings. A police water canon immediately dispersed the protesters.

Five representatives finally allowed to meet with Gamawan, but only after Ubaidi relayed a prerequisite that all the discarded shirts be taken away.

Speaking after the meeting, Ubaidi said the two sides had "reached an agreement." He said the ministry promised to involve the association in the preparation of the draft law on villages – a revision of the 2004 law on regional governments.

Ubaidi said that the five representatives of the organization will come back later to further discuss the draft bill. "The government will first complete the main body of the draft law," he said, and only after that the status of the village officials will be discussed.

The announcement of the results of the negotiations was greeted the singing of the national anthem, after which the demonstrators left. (Antara, JG)