ABSTRACT
The contemporary agrarian movement in Indonesia began in the last decade of the New Order regime (1966-98). Several land disputes turned into violent clashes when farmers protested against low compensation and the heavyhanded methods used by state agents to expropriate lands for development projects (Aditjondro 1998; Lucas and Warren 2000, 2003; Afiff et al. 2005). Contests over rights to natural resources represented part of this wave of conflict, and in many cases, farmers’ causes were endorsed by student groups and urban non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (Warren 1998a, 1998b; Afiff and Lowe 2007). Although early protests were suppressed, they set the scene for a vigorous movement to emerge after President Suharto resigned in 1998. Within a few years, the movement succeeded in pressuring the Indonesian parliament to pass a decision on agrarian reform and on the management of natural resources. Farmers’ unions have also organized numerous protests against rice imports, trade agreements and international financial organizations.
