'Just send the squatters home'<\/p>\n
World Population Day fell on July 11 but many observers say
\nlittle is being done to address population issues, including the
\ndesperate existence of squatters worldwide. The Jakarta Post
\nasked residents their opinion of how the city administration
\nshould deal with squatters.<\/p>\n
Bobby, 24, is a student at a private university in East
\nJakarta. A Jakarta native, he lives with his parents in Pasar
\nMinggu, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
The city administration should curb the influx of migrants by
\nbeefing up sweeps at Jakarta's entrances points, such as the
\nintercity bus terminals and railway stations.<\/p>\n
Jobless migrants should be sent home immediately before they
\nsquat and establish settlements here.<\/p>\n
For the existing squatters, the administration should pay for
\ntheir tickets home. If necessary the administration should use
\nstern measures to push squatters out of the city. Sometimes we
\nshould ignore human rights.<\/p>\n
However, at the same time, the central government should
\naccelerate economic decentralization. The government should help
\ncreate jobs in the villages.<\/p>\n
Tasrif, 29, sells pirated VCDs on Jl. Sudirman in Central
\nJakarta and lives with his wife and children in Depok. He came to
\nJakarta from Padang, West Sumatra, five years ago:<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration should provide more low-cost
\nhousing for the poor so they can improve their standard of
\nliving.<\/p>\n
Although I am a migrant myself, I think the number of
\nsquatters in Jakarta is out of control. Jakarta should take
\nmeasures to stop migrants from coming to the city.<\/p>\n
The city administration should pay close attention to places
\nwhere squatters are likely to establish settlements, like along
\nriverbanks and railways. Once one hut is erected on, say, a
\nriverbank, the administration must act quickly to move the
\nsquatters out of the area.<\/p>\n
It would be worse if the administration let them live there
\nfor years and then moved them out by burning down their huts or
\nbeating them.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/just-send-the-squatters-home-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }