Panca Nugraha, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara – Around 150 university students, activists and farmers grouped under the People's Coalition of West Nusa Tenggara staged a rally on Thursday to protest land expropriation and to condemn repressive measures taken against people.

The protest began at the Bank Indonesia intersection in Mataram before heading to the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Council, which is 1 kilometer away from the bank.

The protesters pointed out that a land dispute had triggered a recent clash between residents and authorities in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

"The government should not take away the people's rights in the name of economy and investment, especially by using repressive measures in seizing people's land," said rally coordinator Zuki Zuarman.

The West Nusa Tenggara administration has planned to designate 891,000 hectares of land, or around 44 percent of the province's land area, to 197 mining companies in Lombok and Sumbawa, according to the coalition.

Some of the companies have carried out exploration and exploitation activities, while the others are still waiting for a license from the administration, it said.

"These mining companies will eventually take control of farmers' land. The people have to fight against this," Zuki said. (mtq)