NGOs strive to defend scavengers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of 18 non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs) merged in the Alliance for Land Disputes in
\nGreater Jakarta have strived to defend the rights of evicted
\nscavengers and farmers in Rorotan, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A number of the NGO's representatives pledged on Wednesday to
\nsupport the rights of the 60 families of scavengers and farmers
\nwho were forcefully evicted by developer PT Green Garden, on June
\n28, from the four hectares of land which they had occupied since
\nthe early 1980s.<\/p>\n
"We want to show them that we stand on their side," said Azas
\nTigor from NGO Jakarta Social Institute.<\/p>\n
"For now we are giving the families our moral support. But if
\nnecessary we will help them take the case to court," said Erizal,
\ndirector of Nusantara Legal Aid Institute.<\/p>\n
The NGOs donated nylon tents to the families still remaining
\non the site and urged the developer to stop the evictions which
\nwere reportedly still going on.<\/p>\n
The NGOs in their statement also urged the developer to
\ncompensate the families for the demolished properties.<\/p>\n
In the statement, the NGOs urged that an investigation be held
\nand that action be taken against the persons responsible for the
\neviction of the families.<\/p>\n
"The developer forcefully evicted and demolished all the
\nfamilies' belongings which they bought with their own money bit
\nby bit," Erizal said.<\/p>\n
According to Paskah Irianto from the Legal Aid Foundation
\n(YLBHI), since the families occupied the land for more than 10
\nyears they have in fact some rights over the it.<\/p>\n
The families still remaining in the area, meanwhile, insist on
\nstaying until they received proper compensation.<\/p>\n
Bapuk, 45, a mother of two children, said she suffered
\nmaterial losses of about Rp 2 million when her house was
\ndemolished by what she called "hoodlums" hired by the developer.<\/p>\n
"They took my Rp 200,000 in cash and destroyed all my
\nfurniture," Bapuk said. Bapuk, who has lived on the site since
\n1980, demanded compensation of at least Rp 2 million.<\/p>\n
Bapuk and her family now live in a nylon tent.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sujai, 44, who hails from Indramayu in West Java,
\nhad occupied the land since 1982 and said he was demanding
\ncompensation of Rp 10 million.<\/p>\n
"My four houses, including the furniture, were all
\ndemolished," said the father of five children and grandfather of
\ntwo.<\/p>\n
Sujai said his four shacks, which occupied about 200 square
\nmeters of land, were ruined by the developer. Sujai, Bapuk and
\nother families now live in makeshift shelters made from paper and
\nplastic.<\/p>\n
The dispute between the developer and the families began when
\nthe farmers vowed to remain on the four hectares of land which
\nthe developer insisted belonged to it.<\/p>\n
The families took their case to the House of Representatives
\nearly last month to protest against their forceful eviction. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-strive-to-defend-scavengers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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