Fate of Gunung Putri residents<\/p>\n
I'm both concerned and saddened by how the residents of Gunung
\nPutri, living not far from the Cibinong cement plant in Bogor,
\nhave been unjustly treated since the New Order era.<\/p>\n
During the New Order era the residents had to give up the land
\nthey had inherited from their ancestors for the construction of
\nthe Jagorawi toll road. They only received Rp 25 to Rp 50 per
\nsquare meter in compensation for the land.<\/p>\n
They also had to give up their land for the construction of
\nthe Gunung Putri toll road, this time receiving Rp 2,000 per
\nsquare meter in compensation, far below the market price.<\/p>\n
Now in the reform era, fertile rice fields next to Lake
\nCibeureum will be appropriated -- according to village
\nauthorities and the contractor concerned, PT Mitra Dinanti Resina
\n-- to turn the lake back into a reservoir for runoff river water
\nto prevent flooding in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The authorities concerned have asked residents to give up
\ntheir land for the sake of national interests. The residents
\nrefused the request, saying they possess land ownership
\ncertificates issued as far back as 1927 by the Dutch colonial
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The government appraised the land at between Rp 27,000 and Rp
\n48,000 per square meter. Then the contractor suggested giving the
\nresidents just Rp 15,000 per square meter as consolation money of
\nsorts, arguing it did not have the money to appropriate the land.<\/p>\n
It is strange that no funds were allocated for such a project.
\nSo, the residents have again refused the offer. Then, out of the
\nblue in this so-called reform era, the contractor began dredging
\nthe residents' land although no agreement had been reached.<\/p>\n
The reason for this action, according to the contractor and
\nthe village authorities, is that one or two villagers have
\nreceived compensation money. In fact, they were cheated if they
\nreceived the money.<\/p>\n
So the residents concerned lodged an oral protest but the
\nprotest fell on deaf ears. The residents then wrote a letter of
\nprotest. The contractor promised to stop its work.<\/p>\n
Since it is the reform era, we should make this case an
\nexample and teach a lesson to those people who would trample on
\nthe rights of others to turn a profit.<\/p>\n
In a land case like this, it is only proper that the residents
\nconcerned be given proper compensation so they can buy new land.<\/p>\n
The dredging of the lake has had a terrible effect and the
\nrice fields can no longer be used. The residents used to be able
\nto plant rice twice a year, and later only once a year. Now they
\ncan no longer plant rice, ending a tradition that has been going
\non for the last one hundred years.<\/p>\n
POLINA BONE, Gunung Putri, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fate-of-gunung-putri-residents-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }