300 evicted Kedoya families refuse to leave<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 300 families squatting on the
\nbanks of the Angke river in Kedoya, West Jakarta, are refusing to
\nleave the site without adequate compensation from the
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
According to a city official the families have been offered up
\nto Rp 300,000 each to leave their plywood shanties built close to
\nthe river and due for destruction under the government's \"clean
\nriver\" program.<\/p>\n
Residents said that since the evictions began in November, the
\nauthorities have bulldozed and burned the rebuilt shanties twice.<\/p>\n
\"We will remain here no matter how many times they try to
\nchase us out by destroying our shanties,\" resident Emon Chaniago
\ntold The Jakarta Post. He added that he and his fellow squatters
\ndo not have anywhere to move to.<\/p>\n
The families have demanded fair compensation, claiming that
\nthey have lived on the site for more than 10 years and have
\nlegitimate Jakarta identity cards.<\/p>\n
The residents have brought the matter to the National
\nCommission on Human Rights and to the city legislative council
\nseveral times.<\/p>\n
The authorities finally agreed to give them some \"pocket
\nmoney\", ranging from Rp 50,000 ($22.5) to Rp 100,000. The
\nresidents regard the money as nothing compared to their
\ngrievances and the need to find another place to live.<\/p>\n
\"Some people have accepted the money because they were
\nintimidated by the security officers,\" Masa Tarigan, another
\nresidents said. There were originally 1,000 families on the site<\/p>\n
Tarigan also said that the city legislature's statement that
\nthe West Jakarta mayor has settled the matter with the residents
\nis totally wrong.<\/p>\n
\"We never agreed to this treatment or to the compensation
\noffered,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While most of the people have finally accepted the money and
\nleft the area, the remaining 300 families in North Kedoya have
\ninsisted on staying even after they were offered Rp 300,000 by
\nthe city administration, he said.<\/p>\n
The evicted Kedoya residents, who are mostly low-paid
\nconstruction laborers and public transportation drivers, have
\nreportedly stayed with their relatives or rented houses in
\nTangerang and Bekasi.<\/p>\n
\"They still come to Jakarta to do their jobs,\" Marbun, another
\nresident said.<\/p>\n
Solutions<\/p>\n
The two alternative solutions -- living in a low-cost
\napartment or resettlement program -- offered by the authorities
\nare unrealistic, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the squatters cannot afford to pay the price of an
\napartment and they are totally unfamiliar with agricultural work
\nin the proposed resettlement areas.<\/p>\n
An assistant to the West Jakarta mayor, Solichin, told the
\nPost yesterday that the city administration has no more money to
\npay the squatters. \"We have tried to give them some money even
\nthough we are not obliged to and it is not in our budget.\"<\/p>\n
He said the 300 families could be tenants or house owners who
\nhave received compensation though claiming they have not.<\/p>\n
More than 400 families and thousands of other river bank
\nsquatters elsewhere on the river are next in line for eviction,
\nSolichin said. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/300-evicted-kedoya-families-refuse-to-leave-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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