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Hundreds of Rembang people march 150 kilometers to protest cement factory
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Nine farmers of Mount Kendeng, Rembang regency, Central Java, protest against the construction of cement plants in their area by embedding their feet in concrete in front of the State Palace in Jakarta on April 13. They demanded to meet with the President to voice their concerns over how the plants would harm the environment and threaten their agricultural livelihoods. (The Jakarta Post/Seto Wardhana)
A
bout 300 people from Rembang regency in Central Java marched some 150 kilometers from their homes in Gunem district to Semarang in protest against the construction of a cement factory in their area by the state-owned Semen Indonesia.
The coordinator of a group called People Care for Kendeng Mountain, Joko Prianto, said the march started at their iconic “fighting” tents around the cement factory on Monday. They planned to finish walking on Friday, kompas.com reported.
“We have arrived in [downtown Rembang], at the house of Gus Mus,” said Joko "Jokopri" Prianto, one of the leaders of the Kendeng community, which had fought for the Kendeng karst mountains against cement factories. He was referring to renowned Nahdlatul Ulama cleric Mustofa Bisri.
The long march was undertaken to push Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo to revoke the environmental permit issued by his office in 2012. The marchers were also encouraged by a Supreme Court ruling that went in favor of the residents and ordered the revocation of the environmental permit.
“We demand the governor revoke the permit and halt the construction of the cement factory in Rembang,” he said. (evi)
