Koja residents will fight for higher compensation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Residents in Koja Utara subdistrict in North
\nJakarta have pledged to continue fighting for higher compensation
\nfor their land, despite being warned off by the mayor.<\/p>\n
Head of the Koja resident's delegation H.M. Saman told
\nreporters that all of his members will continue to fight because
\nthey have rights to the land and the battle is not over yet.<\/p>\n
\"The mayor has lied, we are not losing in court because we
\nfiled an appeal to High Court, and the residents never made any
\nnegative statements which can cause unrest,\" Saman said.<\/p>\n
Saman said on March 7, Mayor Suprawito made a false statement
\nbefore the press saying that Koja residents had lost in court and
\nthat the residents lied by saying that security officers had
\nintimidated them.<\/p>\n
\"The intimidation did happen. As a result many of our members
\naccepted the compensation rate set by the mayoralty because they
\nwere frightened,\" Saman said.<\/p>\n
Saman said that there are around 3,000 residents who rejected
\nthe compensation.<\/p>\n
The dispute over the land compensation arose after PT Pelindo
\nII announced last year it would appropriate 90 hectares of land
\ninhabited by 9,037 families of almost 40,000 people. The company
\nplans to build a cargo terminal expansion in a joint-venture with
\nPT Humpuss, the widely diversified business group owned by
\nPresident Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra.<\/p>\n
After a number of previously tedious negotiations failed to
\nreach an agreement, North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito decided to
\nbreak the deadlock by offering between Rp 100,000 (US$46.8) and
\nRp 160,000 ($75) per square meter, Rp 10,000 higher than the rate
\nset by PT Pelindo II.<\/p>\n
The Koja residents, however, insisted that the compensation be
\nset at Rp 2.275 million, which is even higher than the rate
\noffered by private developers to residents living in the most
\nexpensive business districts in the city.<\/p>\n
Koja Utara subdistrict, located adjacent to the Tanjung Priok
\ncontainer terminal, has been earmarked for a new cargo terminal
\nsite. The new terminal, which is being built at a cost of US$498-
\nmillion, is expected to start operation in October 1998.<\/p>\n
Saman said residents have the right to the land based on a
\nletter from the governor to Pelindo and a letter from the
\nminister of finance to the minister of transportation.<\/p>\n
\"The letter states that the land appropriation in Koja should
\nbe conducted safely and the residents should receive appropriate
\ncompensation,\" Saman said. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koja-residents-will-fight-for-higher-compensation-1447893297",
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