Compensation sought from country club<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 25 families in the Ciganjur-Cipedak
\nsubdistrict, South Jakarta, have demanded compensation for a 12-
\nhectare plot of their land appropriated by force as part of the
\nMatoa golf course and country club.<\/p>\n
A group of representatives of the families visited the Jakarta
\nLegal Aid Institute on Wednesday to seek legal advice over their
\ndispute with the golf course management PT Sarana Graha Adhi
\nSantosa, a company controlled by former president Soeharto's
\ngolfing buddy Mohamad \"Bob\" Hasan.<\/p>\n
The representatives' spokesman, Nurhadi, said the construction
\nof the golf course and country club, covering a total area of 67
\nhectares, was completed in 1993.<\/p>\n
He said 45 hectares of the land belonged to the Air Force,
\nwhile the remaining 12 hectares belonged to local residents'
\ngrandfathers, identified as Saleh, Simin, Soepari, Misan and
\nMadun.<\/p>\n
He said the company rented the Air Force land for 30 years.<\/p>\n
\"Until now, however, we have never received any compensation,
\neven though the Air Force once admitted that the land belongs to
\nus,\" Nurhadi said.<\/p>\n
He said the company started to clear the Air Force land for
\nthe construction of the golf course project in 1989.<\/p>\n
\"We were shocked that our land located adjacent to the Air
\nForce land was also cleared,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said they were once offered compensation of Rp 65,000
\n(US$8.9) per square meter by the company in 1994, but it was
\nnever paid.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on the residents' demand, the company's
\nlawyer, Vincent Edwin Hasyim, was tightlipped .<\/p>\n
\"It's a sensitive matter. I could not give a comment before
\ndiscussing it with the company executives,\" Vincent told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Tubagus H.K. of the institute who represented the land
\nowners said that the company had violated the law by illegally
\nappropriating his clients' property.<\/p>\n
Tubagus said his clients and their family members planned to
\nstage a large demonstration at the golf course on Thursday to
\ndemand the compensation.<\/p>\n
He said a golf tournament named the Matoa Nasional Open-
\nAndersen Consulting Challenge Championship was now being held on
\nthe course.<\/p>\n
\"We insist that our demands be heard,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The golf course and country club was often visited by former
\npresident Soeharto for rounds with Bob Hasan before Soeharto
\nresigned on May 21 this year. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/compensation-sought-from-country-club-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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