Thousands of people from a village in Bogor rallied outside the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, demanding the government hand back land they claim is rightfully theirs.

The protesters, from Sukamulya in Rumpin subdistrict, demanded the government revoke a 2009 ministerial decree that, according to them, states 1,000 hectares in Sukamulya belongs to the Indonesian Air Force.

Calling themselves the Association of Sukamulya Residents, they arrived in trucks and posted banners in the gates to the House. "The land belongs to us, the Sukamulya residents," said one demonstrator, as quoted by Kompas.com.

"We are coming here to put a stop to the Air Force's greed. They want to take 1,000 hectares of our land. We are saying no to them, the land is ours. We have been intimidated but we're not afraid."

Two lawmakers, TB Hasanuddin, from the House's Commission I, and Ganjar, Pranowo from Commission II, met with the demonstrators.

"We are going to work until all of you can sleep peacefully on your land. I will take you directly to the military and fight for your land," Hasanuddin told the demonstrators.

One of the residents said that he hoped the lawmakers would keep their promises.

"It is important that the promises are kept and what they have said is not empty talk. We have been intimidated for the last three days. Two Air Force planes have flown very low above our village, terrifying the villagers."