Squatters occupy a disputed Ancol plot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of 100 people occupied a 1.4-hectare
\nplot of land inside the Ancol dreamland park in North Jakarta on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Claiming to be representatives of the land's heirs, the
\nsquatters pitched bamboo and canvas tents and pledged to remain
\non the site until the park's management, PT Pembangunan Jaya
\nAncol, fulfilled its promise to provide Rp 2.2 billion
\n(US$252,000) compensation to the heirs.<\/p>\n
\"We'll fight for our rights,\" the group's spokesman, Bulganon
\nAmir, said.<\/p>\n
According to Bulganon, the land near Jl. Pasir Putih Raya in
\nthe eastern edge of the park was legally owned by H.M. Said, who
\ndied in 1985.<\/p>\n
Two years before his death, Said was evicted from the land
\nwhich he had occupied since 1952. He then began a continuous
\ncampaign to get compensation from Pembangunan Jaya Ancol,
\nBulganon said.<\/p>\n
The company is jointly owned by the city administration and
\nCiputra's PT Pembangunan Jaya.<\/p>\n
Said was forced to yield the land based on a 1962 city
\nregulation which stipulated that all land located in the area
\nspecially designed for the dreamland park would be used by the
\nadministration for the project, Bulganon said.<\/p>\n
\"At the time, the administration promised to exchange the land
\nwith another plot of land in another area. But the promise has
\nnever been realized,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Following his death, Said's 16 heirs took over the battle. The
\nthen governor Surjadi Soedirdja instructed the park's management
\nto pay the compensation of Rp 2.2 billion to the heirs in May
\n1993 and May 1997 respectively.<\/p>\n
\"But the management's never been willing to obey the
\ngovernor's instruction,\" Bulganon said, adding that the land had
\nnot been touched.<\/p>\n
The heirs were stunned last month when they received a letter
\nsigned by Governor Sutiyoso which stated that the documents owned
\nby the late Said for the land were illegal, he added.<\/p>\n
It appears that the receipt of the letter provoked the heirs
\nto ask their friends to take over the site.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the case, the head of the marketing division of
\nPembangunan Jaya Ancol, Waluyo, insisted that the company would
\nrefer to Sutiyoso's letter.<\/p>\n
\"If they aren't satisfied, they can take the case to court,\"
\nWaluyo said after meeting three representatives of the squatters.<\/p>\n
He said it was the people's right to stage such demonstrations
\non the site as long as they did not create disorders.<\/p>\n
Waluyo admitted that his company did once agree to pay the
\ncompensation but revoked its decision following the
\nadministration's discovery of the illegal nature of Said's land
\ndocuments.<\/p>\n
\"But, we still have no plans for the land,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bulganon charged that Sutiyoso's letter was a maneuver to hide
\nthe collusion between the park's management and city officials.
\n(ind)<\/p>",
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