Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Residents from Rancabentang, Ciumbeuleuit in Bandung, staged a rally Tuesday at the Bandung Municipal Legislative Council protesting its indecision on the construction of the Four R Hotel.

The crowd protested in front of the council building while beating drums, cans and plastic bottles.

A protester, Sugandaria, said they had objected to the hotel during a rally on Jan. 19, when they disputed the signatures of 100 residents from the project's public awareness campaign in 2007. The signatures were later used in a residents' agreement with the municipality to issue a building permit for the planned 15-story hotel.

Residents realized their signatures were forged, after trucks and heavy machinery entered the site in June 2008. Backed by prominent lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, who owns a house near the construction site, residents eventually aired their grievances publicly.

Previously, Nasution and a group of residents took the case to the Bandung State Administrative Court. The court, however, ruled in favor of the hotel owner, jeans producer Henry Husada, on the grounds that the signatures had strengthened his position and that he had satisfied all of the legal procedures.

"Today, the city councilors promised that they would come here and see the violation firsthand," Sugandaria said. "But the visit was canceled and we are clearly disappointed."

City Council spokesperson Hetty Sofiati said the visit was canceled because Council Speaker Husni Mutaqien was engaged in party affairs.

Hotel owner Henry said he felt he had gone through the proper procedures.

"We won the appeal for the hotel construction at the Administrative Court in December. We don't understand why they think we are in the wrong," Henry said.