Semarang – Because the price of tobacco has plummeted to only 5,000 rupiah per kilogram in the last period, the economic conditions for tobacco farmers in the central tobacco plantations in Central Java (Jateng) such as Wonosobo, Temanggung, Demak, and Kendal, is of increasing concern.

These difficult living conditions caused around 5,000 tobacco farmers from the central tobacco plantations to hold a demonstration at the Jateng regional parliament on Monday afternoon. The farmers from these different areas entered the grounds of the Jateng parliament at around 10am using around 50 inter-city busses which were parked along the length of Jalan Pahlawan, Semarang. The also erected banners and [distributed] pamphlets with the words "Tax free cigarettes, tobacco farmers free of tax", "Oh government officials have concern for our fate" and a giant cigarette with the words "Reduce Taxes on Cigarettes" [written on it].

Wahyudi Wahyu Wijaja, the chairperson of the Sindoro Sumbing Association of Tobacco Farmers (Paguyuban Petani Tembakau Sindoro Sumbing, PPTSS) in the Wonosobo regency outlined the demands of the tobacco farmers in a speech. They included the abolition of Government Regulation Number 81/1999 on Tar and Nicotine Limits.

As well as this, they also called on the government to reduce tax on cigarettes by as much as 50 per cent from the existing 40 per cent. They also rejected globalisation and asked for government support for the struggle of farmers.

The high tax on cigarettes has resulted in the cigarette factories setting an extremely low price for farmers' tobacco. During this harvest season, the price of picked tobacco leaves was 10,000 rupiah, while in the years before this it was 15,000 per kilogram. In this last period the prices has further plummeted. In the years before the value of tobacco leaves was extremely high because of it was of the best quality, that is reaching 45-50,000 rupiah per kilogram. However in 2002, it was only 5,000 rupiah per kilogram.

"If these demands are not fully met, we will not pay taxes and at the 2004 general elections we will not participate in the election. Just leave us without a legislative representative. Okay!" said Wahyudi in his speech. "Farmers always become the remedy for to maintain the companies [financial sustainability], raising state funds from extremely high cigarette taxes", he said.

Big losses

According to Muhammad Yasin, a farmer from Dukuh Jurang Jero in the village of Candiyasan, Wonosobo regency, in the 2002 harvest season tobacco farmers suffered big losses. Last year, tobacco farmers could depend on a net income of a minimum of 4 million rupiah. That was after deducting production cost of around 7 million rupiah per hectare.

"But now were is that possible. Instead we are suffering big losses. It is not possible to [get enough] to even [cover] the cost of the capital [investment]", said Yasin.

The tobacco farmers gathered on the grounds and in the lobby of the Jateng parliament while their representatives went up to the third floor to hear the views of the Jateng Parliamentary Commission B. At the meeting which was chaired by Drs Moecshon B, the farmers presented their demands. The farmers also related their plans to go to Jakarta to meet with President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

"We came here to ask for one answer from the Jateng parliament. Is the Jateng parliament ready to support the tobacco farmers' struggle or not. If [you] support us we ask for a letter of support for us to the meeting with President Megawati", said Wisnu Brata, the coordinator of PPTSS Temanggung.

As well as the tobacco farmers, the meeting was also attended by the head of the Jateng Plantation Department, Ir Nazaruddin Thoha and a number of members of the Wonosobo parliament who joined the tobacco farmers when they rallied from the various areas.

The result of the meeting was an agreement, that the Jateng parliament, specifically Commission B, supports the action and the tobacco farmers' struggle. A Jatang parliament letter of support number 412/2890/2002 was read out before the tobacco farmers in the grounds of the Jateng parliament. The letter was addressed to President Megawati and signed by the head of the Jateng Parliament, Mardijo. (VIN)

[Translated by James Balowski. Please not that the demands on the farmers' banners in this report were ambiguous and may not have been rendered exactly.]