20 residents seek Rp1.6b compensation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Twenty residents of Tugu Utara in North Jakarta
\nhave demanded Rp 1.6 billion (US$216,216) in compensation from
\nthe state harbor operator PT Pelindo II for a 7,000-square-meter
\nplot of land which the firm appropriated from them.<\/p>\n
The Koja district residents made their demand during a visit
\nto the National Commission on Human Rights, where they were
\nseeking help to settle their dispute with Pelindo.<\/p>\n
They claimed the land belonged to Kasih Amad, a resident who
\nhad cultivated the site for 36 years.<\/p>\n
\"Kasih Amad's ownership of the land was confirmed by a team
\nset up by the city administration on Oct. 13, last year,\" Yamin,
\none of Kasih's heirs, said.<\/p>\n
Yamin said the land was appropriated by PT Pelindo II in 1995
\nto build a school to replace one demolished by the company during
\nthe expansion of the nearby container terminal. No compensation
\nwas paid, he added.<\/p>\n
The company told them it had bought the land from a resident
\nnamed Arif Biki for Rp 1.6 billion, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know who Arif Biki is. We think there is collusion
\ngoing on between PT Pelindo II employees and officials from the
\nlocal district and subdistrict offices,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The land dispute began after PT Pelindo II and PT Humpuss, a
\nprivate company controlled by former president Soeharto's
\nyoungest son Hutomo Mandala Putra, announced their intention to
\nappropriate 90 hectares of land to expand the container terminal
\nseveral years ago.<\/p>\n
Yamin said the harbor operator paid Rp 400 million in
\ncompensation to Kasih's lawyer, identified as Abdul Rojak Daud.<\/p>\n
The lawyer then asked Kasih, who was illiterate, to put his
\nthumb print on a piece of paper and later gave him Rp 40 million
\nin return, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We have parted company with the lawyer. My relative would not
\nhave agreed to do that if the lawyer had explained the full
\ncontents of the document,\" Yamin said.<\/p>\n
B.N. Marbun and Soegiri from the human rights commission said
\nthey would study the matter and suggested that Kasih and his
\nrelatives take the case to court. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/20-residents-seek-rp16b-compensation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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