INDONESIA: Peasants march for justice

JAKARTA — One thousand peasants from various regions of Indonesia rallied and marched here on September 24 to demand government action on human rights and economic justice.

Organised by the National Peasants Union (STN), the rally brought together peasants from Java and south Sumatra to rally outside the Presidential Palace, followed by a march to the Bank of Indonesia and then through city streets to the Proclamasi Monument.

The peasants demanded the return of lands illegally seized from them by the government and military; provision of new technology, especially tractors, to the peasants to allow them to increase their productivity; and a guarantee of a living income for all rural families, including abolition of all taxes and duties which cut into peasant incomes.

Although the demonstrators faced a substantial police presence outside the Presidential Palace, they were able to complete their protest peacefully.

BY JIM MCILROY

From GLW issue 423