Mataram – At least 120 farmers from three villages in Central Lombok regency staged a rally in front of the West Nusa Tenggara gubernatorial office on Wednesday, demanding payment for land that will be used for the Mandalika integrated resort.

The demonstration was triggered by activities on the site of the resort, one of the projects under The Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) managed by state-run PT Bali Tourism Development Corporate (BTDC).

"We do not reject the project, but please complete the payment for our land," one of the farmers, Sahabuddin of Sengkol said.

Sahabuddin claimed that nine hectares of his land were acquired for the project, but had only been paid Rp.47 million for five hectares since land acquisition for the project started in 1992.

Central Lombok administration spokesman Lalu Herdan said BTDC had yet to pay for 130 of 1,250 hectares of land that would be used for the resort. "But BTDC committed to pay. We have the data. It's a matter of realization," Herdan said.