Chaidir Anwar Tanjung/Fitri & GB, Pekanbaru – Around 300 residents of Bangun Sar village, Kampar Kiri sub district, Kampar regency, Pekanbaru, Riau province, rallied at PT Uni Seraya Group, Thursday. They claimed the company with extensive forestry concession rights in their village had failed to hand over one half of its rubber plantation to locals as previously promised.
Ramadan (45), a participant in the rally, told Detik that they came to the provincial capital because PT Rimal Seraya Utama (RSU) – a subsidiary of PT Uni Seraya Group – had not fulfilled their promise. PT RSU, he said, had promised to provide 150 villagers 1 ha of rubber plantation as compensation when the company opened forest concessions in the village.
The same deal was apparently also promised to 150 transmigrants from East Java who were brought to the area by the company to live in the village. The company promised to hand over the land in 1994. "But until now, we can not benefit from the plantation," said Ramadan.
Ramadan also said that the company had only planted rubber trees on the side of roads on the disputed land. One ha of plantation thus only contained 20 rubber trees. Unsatisfied, residents have many times demanded the company plant more rubber trees.
"After six years, they have turned their back on our demands. If our demands are not answered, then the company should take a hike from our village," said the spirited Ramadan.
Apart from the demand regarding the land itself, the residents also demanded the company pay compensation of Rp 28 billion. This was calculated from the company's failure to set up the rubber plantation and the losses suffered by the locals. "If we count the profitability of the plantation over the six years, then the company is obliged to pay out compensation," said a resident at the rally.
The villagers arrived in Pekanbaru around noon local time in four trucks. They ranged in age from toddlers to the elderly. The demonstrators unfurled posters and banners. One read: "Where is rubber plantation promised by the company? If you are not willing to guide us,