Yogyakarta – Hundreds of coastal farmers in Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta, staged a rally and hunger strike on Monday, protesting at a plan to develop an airport on their farmland.

Organizing themselves as Wahana Tri Tunggal, 30 of the farmers began their hunger strike on Monday and planned to continue for 15 days.

"We say no to the development of the airport on productive farmland as it will make farmers poor. Forcing the development [of the airport] is a violation of human rights," Wahana Tri Tunggal coordinator Sumartono said.

The farmers, mostly women, also urged Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono to revoke Decree No. 68/Kep. 2015 on the location determination license (IPL) of the airport in Temon district, on Kulonprogo's southern coast, arguing that it was not in accordance with the national spatial planning.

The local government plans to develop the new airport to replace the current Adisucipto International Airport, which is considered no longer capable of accommodating passenger numbers.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/10/27/islands-focus-farmers-reject-airport-development.html