Farmers protest alleged criminalization at Central Java police headquarters

Dozens of farmers, organized as the Kawulo Alit Mandiri Farmers Group, marched to the Central Java Regional Police headquarters in Semarang to protest what they describe as the criminalization of farmers. The demonstration specifically voiced support for two farmers, Ropii and Trisminah, who are currently facing legal proceedings.

The farmers' legal counsel, from Suara Aksi (Solidarity for Democracy), urged the Regional Police's Directorate of General Criminal Investigation to halt the investigation. The case stems from a report by PT Soekarli Nawaputra Plus, accusing the farmers of encroaching on approximately 16 hectares of land in Dusun Dayunan, Kendal. The legal team contends that this legal action constitutes criminalization amid an ongoing agrarian conflict involving around 152 farmers.

Protesters carried banners and demanded that the agrarian conflict be resolved through a justice-oriented approach rather than criminal prosecution. They argue that farmers fighting for their land rights should not be subjected to criminal charges. The police, however, confirmed that the investigation into the land dispute is ongoing.

The legal team emphasized that the dispute involves hundreds of farmers seeking to assert their rights over the land. They believe the current legal process unfairly targets individuals who are merely defending their claims in a complex agrarian conflict.