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Hundreds of demonstrators in Ambon, Maluku, came close to blows with members of the provincial legislature on Thursday.

The demonstrators, who called themselves the Joint Secretariat for Land Reforms (SBURA), broke into a plenary meeting at the Maluku Legislative Council.

Members of SBURA want the Maluku administration to stop issuing new licenses for forest concessions and to suspend licenses already granted.

They also called for an end to the expansion of oil palm estates and urged the government to end the numerous land conflicts between the military and local people.

SBURA also wants to stop the planned establishment of Manusela National Park on Seram Island as it would displace the Huaulu people from their ancestral homeland.

They said they were dissatisfied with the contents of the plenary session, which was called to address the protestors’ grievances.

At the start of the demonstrations, protestors entered the grounds of the council building and set up four tents, where they remained until late afternoon. Councilors Richard Rahakbauw and Arnolis Laipeny met the protest leaders and asked representatives to sit in on the plenary meeting.

SBURA coordinator Janes Balubun agreed and led protest representatives to the building when suddenly all the demonstrators rushed into the council hall and began kicking chairs.

Police and public security officers were called in to quell the violence.

“This is a public building and we will allow in anyone who is willing to sit with us and voice their grievance in a civilized way,” Rahakbauw said.

The plenary session was rescheduled to a later date. 

Antara