Bias cited on demolition of villas<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): The local administration's policy to demolish
\nillegally built villas has been smeared as \"discriminative\"
\nbecause buildings belonging to people with powerful connections
\nhave always been spared, Antara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Officials usually tear down illegal villas belonging to people
\nthey believe do not have the \"power to create problems\" while
\npowerful people's buildings remain untouched, the report said.<\/p>\n
\"It has been a show of discrimination on the part of the
\ngovernment because the operation targets only illegal villas and
\nbuildings belonging to common people,\" said a resident of Puncak,
\nwhose home is surrounded by wealthy Jakartans' cozy villas.<\/p>\n
The Bogor regency government plans to resume an operation
\naimed at tearing down illegal villas in the mountain resort of
\nPuncak, which is popular among Jakartans.<\/p>\n
Officials have said at least 285 buildings will be demolished
\nin the upcoming operation but they are keeping the date secret.<\/p>\n
Puncak residents say most villas in the area are owned by
\ngovernment officials and businesspeople who live in Jakarta and
\nthat few have the necessary building permits.<\/p>\n
Puncak, which includes parts of three regencies, Bogor,
\nSukabumi and Cianjur, has been designated a water catchment area
\nand building has been tightly supervised there since the 1980s.<\/p>\n
\"A new crackdown operation is only a matter of time,\" said
\nregency administration spokesman Ibrahim Abubakar.<\/p>\n
The last operation took place in October, when officials tore
\ndown six posh villas in Cisarua district. Over the past two
\nyears, 123 illegal villas have been dismantled.<\/p>\n
Villas owners have been notified about the plan and given the
\nchance to dismantle the buildings themselves, Ibrahim said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bias-cited-on-demolition-of-villas-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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