Palembang – Residents of the Sidodadi subdistrict in Palembang, South Sumatra, staged a demonstration on Monday in front of the subdistrict office to protest the intimidation tactics employed by the Air Force in its acquisition of land near the air base.

"Dozens of Air Force personnel come to the site everyday to drive residents away," said resident Budi Hermawan.

Budi said residents had the relevant land ownership certificates to prove that they had occupied the land for more than 20 years. He said residents would never move to other areas or give up their land to the military.

"The strange thing is that residents have been offered Rp 2 million [US$190] per family provided that we are happy to be resettled in other areas," he said, adding that the Air Force was trying to acquire 150 hectares of densely populated area near the air base.

Air base commander Lt. Col. Adam Soeharto said the land would be used to make a golf course.