Indonesia joins Habitat II int'l conference<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian delegate to the second World Human
\nSettlement Conference (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey, said
\nyesterday that legal eviction will be among the more contentious
\nissues to be debated by conference participants.<\/p>\n
Sumadi Brojo told a press conference here yesterday that
\nIndonesian authorities often have to evict people living
\nillegally on government land. The demolition is legal, but the
\naction itself poses many problems, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Sumadi cited as an example the government's intolerance of
\nriver bank dwellers, as their settlements have proven to be one
\nof the causes of floods in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Upon being evicted, the river bank dwellers demanded
\ncompensation from the government and various problems emerged, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sumadi said that it is actually the dwellers who should pay
\nthe government, because they have utilized the lands illegally.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will send 60 delegates, led by Minister of Housing
\nAkbar Tanjung, to the conference. The conference will open on
\nJune 3 and last until June 14.<\/p>\n
The conference will be attended by 185 members of the United
\nNations. It aims at establishing a global sustainable settlement
\nsystem and to provide sufficient housing for everyone.<\/p>\n
Akbar Tanjung said yesterday that the Indonesian delegation
\ncomprises -- among others -- central, provincial, and municipal
\ngovernment officials, legislators, experts, and activists of non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
Akbar also said he has formed a national committee for the
\nconference, which has prepared a report on the settlement
\nsituation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will also participate in the Trade Fair Expo during
\nthe conference, and has prepared a Rp 1 billion (US$429,553)
\ndisplay of Indonesia's achievements in the housing sector.<\/p>\n
Sumadi Brojo, who is member of the committee, predicted that a
\nnumber of issues are likely to invite heated debates between
\ndeveloped and developing countries.<\/p>\n
Among the issues he mentioned were international cooperation
\nand financial resources for housing and settlement. He pointed
\nout that many developing countries still need financial aid for
\ntheir housing programs, while the developed countries strive to
\ncut the aid.<\/p>\n
The conference will organize a series of dialogues, including
\none titled "How Cities Will Look in the 21st Century". Other
\ndialogue topics include "Water for Thirsty Cities", "The Future
\nof Urban Employment", and "Transport in the City of Tomorrow".<\/p>\n
There will also be discussion on "Citizenship and Democracy in
\nthe 21st Century", "Cities, Communication and the Media in the
\nInformation Society" and "Creating Healthy Cities in the 21st
\nCentury". (16)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-joins-habitat-ii-intl-conference-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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