Yeoh En-Lai, Bintan – About 100 villagers resumed their protest over the takeover of their land outside the main land entrance to the Bintan Beach International Resort yesterday morning, nearly six months after 91 were arrested for blockading it.

The villagers, who have pledged to protest peacefully at the entrance on a daily basis, want more compensation for their land, which they gave up progressively since 1991.

The gate, which is also known as Post One, is about 8 km from the closest hotel. Among the hotels are the Banyan Tree Bintan and Club Med Ria Bintan.

Many villagers claimed they got only 100 rupiah (2.4 Singapore cents) a square metre for the land they sold to build the resort. They want 10,000 rupiah a square metre. "We want them to know that unless we get peace, there will be no peace here," said Morie from nearby Malang Rapat village.