INFOKU, BLORA – A demonstration in front of PT Gendhis Multi Manis (GMM) will be held due to the increasing unrest among sugarcane farmers in Blora Regency.
An alliance of farmers, civil society organizations, and students plans to hold a demonstration on Monday (1/6).
As a form of protest against the uncertainty of the sugar industry which is considered detrimental to farmers.
The action is scheduled to begin at 08.00 WIB with an agenda of free speeches, popular speeches, people's theatrical performances, and a mass sugarcane spilling action.
The masses believe that the problems in the sugar industry not only impact farmers but also hit the village economy, which has long depended on the sugarcane sector.
South Blora Front action coordinator Exy Wijaya told the press that the action plan was the result of the accumulated disappointment of farmers who felt they were continually being given promises without certainty.
"Farmers have been promised too many times, but what they've received is uncertainty. We're not bringing sugarcane to stir up trouble, but to show that the people's hard work is being exploited," he said.
According to him, farmers should not continue to be made victims in the never-ending problems of the sugar industry.
"Don't let farmers be used as a shield to cover up the failures in sugar industry governance. It's the people who sweat in the fields, and it's the people who bear the losses," he added.
Meanwhile, the Blora Sugarcane Farmers Association, through Anton Sudibyo, emphasized that this issue concerns the survival of thousands of farming families in Blora.
Because the sugarcane sector has been a mainstay of the village economy.
"Sugarcane is more than just a crop. It supports our children's education, household expenses, the livelihood of lumberjacks, drivers, and the village economy," he said.
Anton also asked the central government and the Indonesian House of Representatives to directly observe the conditions of farmers in the field.
Debt of Rp 2 Trillion
"We're asking Commission IV and Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives to come to Blora. The state must be present to defend the people, not just busy bailing out companies," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Blora Sugarcane Farmers Association, Hairul Anwar, highlighted the importance of transparency regarding PT GMM's debt issue, which is said to have reached around IDR 2 trillion.
"The debt issue must be openly disclosed to the public. Farmers must not be made victims of the corporate crisis," he said.
Also read: Only 37 of 295 Villages Have Paid Taxes, Blora Regency Government Must Work Hard
According to him, the sugar industry crisis will have a wide impact on the socio-economic conditions of villages if it is not resolved fairly immediately.
"If farmers fail, the village will be paralyzed. Shops will be deserted, workers will lose their jobs, and unemployment will rise," he stressed. (Endah/ IST )
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