'Evictions will improve city's image'<\/p>\n
Thousands of squatters in Jembatan Besi, West Jakarta, grieved
\nover the recent demolition of their makeshift houses. The
\nsquatters had been living since 1998 in the 5.5-hectare plot of
\nland owned by PT Cakra Wira Bumi Mandala, when some 1,500 police,
\nmilitary and city public order officers, allegedly assisted by
\nhired men used force in evicting them. The Jakarta Post talked to
\nsome city residents who witnessed the eviction.<\/p>\n
Simun, 31, is an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver operating in
\nJembatan Besi, West Jakarta. He lives in Cengkareng, West
\nJakarta, with his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
We have to admit that many people here lack awareness of
\nproperty rights. The recent eviction proves just how poor their
\nawareness is.<\/p>\n
These people easily claim others' property as their own, just
\nbecause they've lived on it for so long. It's ridiculous, but is
\na common occurrence here.<\/p>\n
I know that the hardships of living in the city, to some
\nextent, has made them behave in this way. But still it is a
\nviolation, isn't it? They have no right at all in this case.<\/p>\n
The recent eviction turned into a riot because some squatters
\ntried to save their businesses in the area.<\/p>\n
There were also some hoodlums who had rented their houses, and
\nthey did not want their illegal property demolished as part of
\nthe eviction.<\/p>\n
So these thugs, along with other squatters, were fighting
\nagainst the eviction, while the authorities allegedly brought
\nalong hoodlums of their own to fight the squatters.<\/p>\n
I suspect the police were given a lot of money to evict the
\nsquatters, as they would not risk their lives just to carry out a
\nroutine eviction.<\/p>\n
Johan, 38, is married with two children, and lives with his
\nfamily near the eviction site in Jembatan Besi, West Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Actually, I felt sorry for the illegal residents who were
\nevicted. Some of them are my friends, and I know they're facing
\nhard times.<\/p>\n
I don't think I could stand behind them in this because they
\nwere in the wrong. It's best just to stand aside and watch from
\nafar.<\/p>\n
I do agree with evictions of this kind, because it will
\nimprove the image of the city.<\/p>\n
Squatters don't have the right to occupy others' property for
\nany reason.<\/p>\n
If the city administration ignores this condition throughout
\nthe city, Jakarta will have more and more slum areas. Certainly,
\nthey won't contribute to the image of the city.<\/p>\n
Worse, it won't attract foreign tourists to come visit and
\ninvest their money in the metropolis.<\/p>\n
This is a lesson for both city dwellers and the government, to
\nalways maintain the city in good order.<\/p>\n
Marzuki, 39, lives in Kemandoran, West Jakarta, with his wife
\nand three children. He was passing by the area when the eviction
\ntook place:<\/p>\n
I don't exactly understand the eviction problem here. But I
\nthink both parties are wrong in many ways.<\/p>\n
The landowner has the right to tell the squatters when they
\ninitially occupied the location, that they could only stay for a
\nwhile until the true owner came to take it back one day.<\/p>\n
The landowner should has established a good communication with
\nthe people from the very beginning.<\/p>\n
He should have also informed the local administration about
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
I think both the landowner and the squatters should be aware
\nof their rights and the consequences, in order to prevent an
\nunexpected dispute when the owner asks them to move out.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, not all city dwellers possess this awareness. A
\nhard life of survival has caused them to take other's belongings
\nwithout any qualms. The longer they have lived in an area, the
\nless willing they are to move.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/evictions-will-improve-citys-image-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }