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Kulon Progo airport development violates human rights: Komnas Ham
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) has stated that the development of the new airport in Kulon Progo regency in Yogyakarta violates the rights of local residents, four of whom have been charged with vandalism
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T
he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) has stated that the development of the new airport in Kulon Progo regency in Yogyakarta violates the rights of local residents, four of whom have been charged with vandalism.
Komnas Ham commissioner Dianto Bachriadi said on Thursday that farmers and land owners surrounding the development area had not received proper information regarding the affects of the project on their lives.
'The authority has not met the farmers' rights to information, the farmers then face uncertainties,' Dianto said. 'The right to information is part of their human rights,' he added.
Yogyakarta administration started the Kulon Progo airport development in 2011 to replace the overcrowded Adisutjipto International Airport.
The new airport project will require 645 hectares of productive land across Glagah, Palihan, Sindutan, Jangkaran, Kebon Rejo and Temon Kulon villages where 11,501 people live, according to the Wahana Tri Tunggal (WTT) organization established by the affected residents.
According to one farmer, Purwito, the government had yet to explain to the affected residents about land compensation or the relocation plan. 'They only explained about the project and whether we agreed or not,' he said.
The authority also barred the WTT members from attending the airport project socialization meeting and then accused four of them of destroying the Glagah village hall during a rally against the development plan, and brought them to court.
Kulon Progo regent Hasto Wardoyo said that the residents would only get information about the amount of land compensation and the relocation plan after the developer had completed more thorough data collection and appraisal. '[The developer] has yet to reach that phase,' he said.
Yogyakarta Planning Agency head Haryanto previously said that the government had conducted the development process in line with proper procedures. 'We never intimidate [local people],' he said.(+++)
