Team to try to end dispute over palm oil in Banggai

PALU: The Banggai regency administration in Central Sulawesi has set up a team to gather data regarding a palm oil plantation being developed by PT Kurnia Luwuk Sejati (KLS), which has sparked a dispute between the company and local farmers.

Banggai Regent Ma*mun Amir said Thursday the team was headed by Mustadir Malia, an assistant to the Banggai administration secretariat, while members include officials from related agencies and farmers.

Earlier, hundreds of farmers from Dataran Toili held a discussion with the local administration in protest against the palm oil plantation.

The villagers accused PT Kurnia of illegally occupying their traditional land to develop its Dataran Toili plantation. -JP