'Fire is the most effective way to evict people'<\/p>\n
The recent Tanah Abang blaze was one of 98 fires that have
\nbroken out in the city since January this year, which have
\nclaimed a total of seven lives. The fires occurred due in part to
\nthe absence of appropriate fire prevention equipment and above
\nall, public ignorance and indifference. But, many people suspect
\narson. The following people shared their views with The Jakarta
\nPost:<\/p>\n
Haryanto, 40, is a shop assistant in Central Jakarta. He
\nresides in Tangerang, Banten with his wife and son:<\/p>\n
The rampant fires, which have razed many parts of the city,
\nhave strengthened my personal conviction that there is something
\nirregular behind the fires.<\/p>\n
I remember when the traditional market in Blok M, South
\nJakarta burned down a few years ago. There were many vendors and
\ntraders who had been pressured to move to another location long
\nbefore the blaze, but they resisted.<\/p>\n
Then, to my surprise, I saw the place incinerate a few months
\nlater.<\/p>\n
I don't go along with the theory that there was something
\nwrong with the electrical system. If that were true, it was only
\nused as a trigger to fulfill a certain motive.<\/p>\n
Unfair competition among the traders is one probable motive.
\nIn addition, I'm afraid that it was just a conspiracy of the rich
\npeople and businessmen or even those in the city administration
\nwith vested interests. So, what happened in Tanah Abang was a
\nsort of sabotage, if I may say so.<\/p>\n
Maybe, fire is deemed the most effective way to forcibly evict
\nillegal settlers from a certain area. Many slums that are in
\ndispute with the city administration end in such fires.<\/p>\n
Let's say it was true, then fire is the most practical way to
\nsettle quarrels between land owners and illegal settlers.<\/p>\n
Gito, 26, is currently unemployed. He resides with his brother
\nin Palmerah, West Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I think the recent fires in the city are ultimately due to
\nnegligence.<\/p>\n
The traders in traditional markets including Tanah Abang,
\nSenen and other places tend to be careless about potential safety
\nand security risks.<\/p>\n
Worse still, the city administration also has not taken
\nmeasures to tackle the risk of fire in those markets. It never
\ntakes measures to raise public awareness on the risk of fire.<\/p>\n
The other cause is the attempt to forcibly evict people from
\nthose areas.<\/p>\n
However, that's just a personal assumption.<\/p>\n
Ayang, 29, is a housewife who resides in Ciledug, Tangerang
\nwith her family:<\/p>\n
I suspect that the recent fires, including the fire in Tanah
\nAbang market in Central Jakarta last week, were triggered by
\nmanmade factors. I mean fire was deemed the most efficient way to
\nconduct an eviction.<\/p>\n
I think fire is the cheapest and yet most effective way to
\nforcibly move "unwanted" parties. Perhaps persuasion or other
\ndecent ways are relatively more expensive and difficult.<\/p>\n
Fire saves the energy and time needed to force people to move
\nout. On the other hand, it would also benefit the mastermind
\nbecause there would be a lucrative construction project following
\nthe blaze.<\/p>\n
I don't believe that a short circuit or other factors are to
\nblame.<\/p>\n
I think the city administration has failed to maintain fire
\nprevention equipment including water hydrants. It'd be better to
\nallocate some funds to cope with the fire problem.<\/p>\n
Jamilus, 25, is an administrative staff in a private company
\nin Central Jakarta. He lives in Sawangan, West Java with his
\nfamily:<\/p>\n
I guess the blazes that occurred in Tanah Abang and in other
\nplaces in the city recently were intentionally lit. Perhaps this
\nis just one way for the city administration to get lucrative
\nbusiness bids to re-develop the market.<\/p>\n
But it's time for the city administration to think over not
\nonly how to make money from the market but also to be more
\nconcerned about security and proper safety equipment.<\/p>\n
The traders are forced to pay taxes but in return the city
\nadministration fails to provide better services and maintain
\nsafety equipment.<\/p>\n
I just wonder how an electrical short circuit could cause such
\na huge blaze. It doesn't make any sense to me.<\/p>\n
Worse still, people always ignore the fire risks even though
\nit may put their lives in danger. They don't care about
\nmaintaining facilities such as hydrants.<\/p>\n
I think people should be careful about fire risks and other
\nsafety factors.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fire-is-the-most-effective-way-to-evict-people-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}