Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Thousands of people occupied the governor's office in Medan on Tuesday, prompting an end to administrative activities and throwing city thoroughfares into total gridlock.
Claiming to be farmers under United People's Forum (FRB), the protesters demanded comprehensive settlements to all land disputes across the province.
Caretaker Governor Gatot Pujonugroho met with the protesters' representatives and promised to revise Decree No. 188/2011 regarding land mapping on PT Perkebunan Nusantara II's concession.
However, the protesters turned down the governor's offer, demanding instead a thorough settlement of all land disputes across the province. The protestors' rejection then prompted the governor to leave his office.
As the governor, who took office in the wake of a corruption case implicating then-governor Syamsul Arifin in April, opted to go home, the protesters stayed and threatened to remain there for four days. They established tents inside the compound, a move that gained the support of a legislator.
Syamsul Hilal, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, said he was ready to stay with the protesters until the governor fulfilled the demand.
"I'm ready to go to the front for the farmers. This camping will last for four days, unless Governor Gatoto Pujonugroho fulfills the farmers' demands," he said in his address to the protesters.
Hundreds of security personnel from the police and the military cordoned off the compound. As of 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, the incident remained calm, but security personnel looked ready to break in to evict the protesters from the gubernatorial compound.
Jumeida, a member of Forum Mahardika, said that the farmers were not afraid of being forcefully evicted.
The protesters claimed state and private plantation companies had stolen the farmers' land and demanded its return. In one land dispute, farmers claimed PT Perkebunan Indonesia II had stolen 5,873 hectares of land. Jumeida said many farmers claiming their rights ended up being kidnapped and persecuted – a fate shared by Saiful Basri.
The government has been accused of being unreceptive to the issue. "Many farmers have suffered here. They have had their rights robbed. We hope the governor does not turn his back on the issue," Jumeida said.