Jakarta Globe, October 21, 2010
Jakarta. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was forced to pause to gather control of his emotions during a speech to mark the national day to celebrate farming communities at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Thursday.
Speaking after Joyo Winoto, head of the National Land Agency (BPN), had deeded government land to representatives of 5,141 poor farming families from Cilacap in Central Java, Yudhoyono began to choke up and appeared to shed a tear.
“Our Constitution says ... [10 seconds of silence]. I’m sorry ... I was overwhelmed to see” the land titles being handed to the farmers, he said with tears in his eyes and to applause.
“Our Constitution,” he continued, “says that earth, water and natural resources within are controlled by the state and used for the prosperity of all of it’s citizens. The time has come, this what our founding fathers wished for.
“What we want is more fair and ongoing development so our children and grandchildren can have a better future,” Yudhoyono said.
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