'Both the city and the squatters are wrong'<\/p>\n
The city administration has evicted around 1,500 families who had
\npreviously occupied a 55-hectare plot of land belonging to Perum
\nPerumnas in Kampung Baru, West Jakarta. The forcible eviction
\nleft some people injured, due to unexpected clashes between the
\nresidents and the apparatus. Worse still, Governor Sutiyoso
\nstated that the squatters were not residents of Jakarta and
\ntherefore, had only two choices: to return to their hometowns or
\nmove to another island. The Jakarta Post asked a law expert and
\nsome residents about the issue.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Asrun, 43, is the Judicial Watch chairman. He lives
\nin Rawamangun, East Jakarta with his wife and three children:<\/p>\n
If Governor Sutiyoso just tries to avoid the issue by saying
\nthat the evicted residents are not citizens, it is not fair. It
\nwould be better for him to provide them with housing.<\/p>\n
I believe that the residents have more rights than Sutiyoso
\ncredits them with. They have legal rights. But they are still in
\na weak position.<\/p>\n
They are Indonesian citizens. They deserve decent living
\narrangements and housing, as is stipulated in our Constitution. I
\nguess he does not know about law.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso should have stopped to read the Constitution before
\nthe people were forcefully evicted with firearms.<\/p>\n
I think the land is in absentia, meaning that if people occupy
\nit for a certain number of years they can appeal to the
\nauthorities to attain property rights.<\/p>\n
The provision of decent housing for the residents would
\nminimize social unrest and lift up our dignity as a nation.<\/p>\n
Dradjad, 32, is an employee at an international organization
\non Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. He resides in Pulomas, East
\nJakarta with his family:<\/p>\n
The recent eviction and similar cases are inhumane. I saw on
\nTV how the squatters were treated like animals by the city
\napparatus during the clash.<\/p>\n
The administration should exercise decency and civility in the
\nresolution of such problems, despite the squatters illegal
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
They tried to survive their economic hardship by living on
\nvacant land. This is the only way to survive if the government
\nnever supports you.<\/p>\n
Why didn't the administration take harsher measures from the
\nvery start of their occupancy?<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso should not just deny that they are his people. West
\nJakarta and its residents are under his authority, right?<\/p>\n
However, life in the city is a mess. It makes me dizzy. In
\nmany ways both sides are wrong.<\/p>\n
Ashari, 45, is a sidewalk vendor who runs a food stall in
\nKebayoran, South Jakarta. He lives in Palmerah, West Jakarta with
\nhis wife:<\/p>\n
I completely disagree with the forced eviction. I take pity on
\nthe homeless.<\/p>\n
The bloody riots should never have occurred. if only the
\nadministration had a more humane approach.<\/p>\n
They have to sit together and talk about the problem. I'm sure
\nthere will be a way out.<\/p>\n
I believe that the evictions will trigger new social problems.
\nThese problems are very dangerous for the city government.<\/p>\n
Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/both-the-city-and-the-squatters-are-wrong-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }