Nani Afrida, Aceh Besar – Tsunami survivors living in Aceh Besar regency are demanding the government compensate then for land acquired to build an alternative road from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh.

"It has already been two years since the government promised to reimburse us for our land," a Glebruek village resident, Syarifuddin, 30, told The Jakarta Post.

Many sections of the former highway connecting Banda Aceh and Meulaboh were destroyed when the tsunami hit Aceh in December 2004. The military's engineering corps later built an alternative route to open up areas isolated by the tsunami.

However, confusion over who owns the land – most people lost everything during the tsunami, including land title deeds – has meant compensation claims have been slowed.

"Land on which the road was built was once rice fields, graveyards, farms and even land on which houses stood previously," Syarifuddin said.

Another resident, Sabarullah, 22, said because of the road, he had to buy a new plot of land so that he could obtain building assistance from a relief agency, paying Rp 3 million (about US$335.00) for a 36-square-meter plot.

"They took 180 sq m of my land for the road construction, which was quite a reasonable area to build a house," he said.

Residents from Lhoong district have called on the government to pay them Rp 40,000 per sq m for farm land and Rp 70,000 a sq m for residential areas.

Frustrated with the lack of progress, they have twice blocked the road with tree trunks.

Glebreuk village administrative chief Ilias Yahya said he had brought the issue up with the district and Aceh Besar regency administrations. They were still studying the residents' demand, he said. "I have told the villagers to be patient, but they have lost their patience," he said.

Residents said they would block the road permanently if they were not paid during the next few days.

The route also passes through five kilometers of community-owned land in the Pudeng and Pasie villages.

"The alternative road is different from the highway planned by (American agency) USAID because (the USAID road) does not pass through the three villages, but opens up new areas," Ilias said.