Food Security & Agriculture

November 2008

Cartoons/Indonesia
Kompas – November 19, 2008

Writing on semi-trailer: 2028. Rice imports.

Experts are warning that the failure to invest in infrastructure and a steady decline in arable land due to environmental degradation and land conversion for housing and industry will result in Indonesia becoming almost entirely dependent upon food imports to meet its needs.

June 2008

News/Indonesia
Riau Terkini – June 25, 2008

Pekanbaru – Around one thousand farmers attended the opening of All Indonesian Farmers and the National Peasants Union (STN) Extraordinary Congress that was held at the Bukit Square in the Senapelan sub-district of Pekan Baru on Wednesday June 25. The event started at around 2pm.

January 2007

News/Indonesia
Radar Tanjab – January 5, 2007

Jambi – Traditional communities and farmers in Indonesia, particularly in Jambi province, Sumatra, are still falling victim to disadvantageous government policies and as a consequence both groups suffer from high levels of poverty.

January 2006

News/Indonesia
Suara Merdeka – January 26, 2006

Semarang – At least 300 farmers in the plantation area of Rumpun Sari Kaligintung owned by PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) IX, have complained about the company to the governor.

News/Indonesia
Liputan6.com – January 25, 2006

Semarang – Thousands of farmers from the Central Java National Farmers Union (Serikat Tani Nasional, STN) went to the offices of the Central Java governor in Semarang on Wednesday January 25. The demonstrators gave speeches and put up posters and banners that opposed rice imports that they believe will severely damage farmers.

December 2005

News/Indonesia
Detik.com – December 18, 2005

Machendra Setyo AtmajaIntania Nur Kusuma, Jakarta – Symbols of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been burnt by demonstrators from the Indonesian People’s Anti-Imperialist Union (Perisai) who were demanding that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have the courage to leave the organisation.

News/Hong Kong
Detik.com – December 18, 2005

Ahmad Dani, Jakarta – Coinciding with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Level Conference (KTM) in Hong Kong, 2,000 farmers gathered at Victoria Park on Saturday December 17. They were commemorating Farmers’ Day by holding an action opposing the WTO. Fifty of the demonstrators were from Indonesia.

News/Indonesia
Detik.com – December 18, 2005

Ahmad Dani, Jakarta – Actions opposing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will also been held in Indonesia. The Indonesian People’s Anti-Imperialist Union (Perisai) will hold a demonstration demanding that Indonesia leave the WTO.

News/Indonesia
Detik.com – December 12, 2005

Arin Widiyanti, Jakarta – Concerned about their livelihoods that are being ground down by the advanced countries, though policies being driven by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), farmers, workers and fisherpeople are urging the minister of trade, Mari Elka Pengestu, to struggle for and to protect their welfare.

News/Hong Kong
Detik.com – December 6, 2005

Intania Nur Kusuma, Jakarta – The World Trade Organisation (WTO) will hold its 6th ministerial level meeting in Hong Kong on 13-18 December. The meeting will face opposition with around 2,000 farmers planning to hold a demonstration – including 50 farmers from Indonesia.