Jakarta, May 30 (AP): Indonesian marines shot and killed three people on Java island Wednesday during a violent protest over a plot of land allegedly owned by the force, a local government official said.

The land in Pasuruan in eastern Java is also claimed by villagers, said Muzammil Syafi'i, the deputy district chief.

He said the marines had killed three people and wounded eight others, but gave no more details.

An eyewitness told El Shinta radio that the incident involved about 40 marines and 150 villagers, who tried to prevent the marines from developing the land.

``But the marines fired directly on them, while saying, 'Whoever tries to stop us will be shot','' said the witness, identified by the single name Solihin.

Syafi'i said the dispute dated back to the 1960s and concerned a 3,600-hectares (8,895-acres) plot that the marines wanted to use as a location for military training.

Land disputes are common in Indonesia due to weak property laws, forged documents and corruption.