Indonesia: State Forest Department threatens the right to food of peasants, Ompo, Lapajung, Bila and Mattabulu villages, Lalabata Subregency in Soppeng Regency, South Celebes

For over 20 years, 340 peasant families in Ompo, Lapajung, Bila and Mattabulu villages, Lalabata Subregency in Soppeng Regency, South Celebes, have been struggling for their right to food. In 1982, their land was declared as “State Forest Zone” and the peasants were arbitrarily prohibited from cultivating their land. Since then, their access to land has been denied and neither compensation nor rehabilitation took place. Many have migrated to cities in search of other employment, while others stayed and tried to survive on their little garden.