At least one protester was killed, more than 100 were injured and 57 were arrested when Indonesian security forces attacked an 800-strong protest in South Sumatra on July 20. The detainees were beaten in jail.
The action was organised by the National Peasants Union (STN) in support of peasants in Benakat, Ujanmas and Penanggiran who are struggling for the return of their land.
The peasants were protesting outside the Muara Enim district administration offices, near Palembang, to demand the return to them of 22,000 hectares of land that have been seized since 1988 by Citra Futura Ltd (CIFU) and National Plantation Ltd.
Throughout their long struggle, the peasants have had to fight the Indonesian government and its bureaucracy. They have suffered military intervention and been terrorised by hoodlums (some drawn from the pro-Indonesia East Timorese militias) paid by CIFU.
The land robberies took place during the Suharto dictatorship. The peasants were thrown off their land and turned into highly exploited casual labourers for the plantations.
On July 21, wives of the arrested demonstrators protested against the detentions. More than 800 people occupied the Muara Enim police station.
Twelve STN activists, including two organisers, remain in detention. They have been tortured by the police.
The injured detainees have been denied medical treatment. Local authorities have ordered the arrest of all STN members, as well as anybody wearing red and anybody with a university student ID card.
The STN is calling for emergency international support. Please make protest telephone calls to: the governor of South Sumatra on +62 711 358 844, +62 711 311 000, +62 711 357 099 and +62 0711 411 550; South Sumatra's police commander on +62 711 312 505, +62 711 713 677 and +62 711 713 677 (home); the head of Muara Enim police on +62 734 21035.
Protest letters can also be emailed to <asiet@asiet.org.au> and Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor will forward them on. STN's email address is <ppstn@hotmail.com>.
The STN is desperate for financial help to cover the costs relating to the hospitalisation of the wounded farmers. Please contact ASIET to find out how to send money to the STN. ASIET's web site is at <http://www.asiet.org.au>.