Traders demand damages<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of traders from Rawasari Timur, Central
\nJakarta, went to the City Council yesterday to demand
\ncompensation for their houses which are to be demolished to make
\nway for public facilities.<\/p>\n
"We do not oppose the city administration's programs but
\nplease don't forget to give us compensation because we don't have
\nmoney to rent houses," Mrs. Syaifulman, spokesperson of the
\ndelegation, told members of the City Council.<\/p>\n
She explained that 30 traders have lived near the market for
\nover 30 years. Recently they received an order to demolish their
\nhomes from the Cempaka Putih district because the site will be
\nconverted to a "green belt," including sidewalks, gutters and
\nroads.<\/p>\n
The order mentioned that the land on which the traders built
\ntheir houses and shops belongs to the city administration and is
\nearmarked for public purposes.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Syaifulman said that the first order was given by the
\ndistrict head verbally, demanding that the traders demolish their
\nhouses within 10 days. The second warning dated Oct. 10 requested
\nthem to dismantle their houses in seven days, she said.<\/p>\n
"We are just poor traders and we do not know where to go if
\nour houses are demolished," Syaifulman said.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Sitorus, another trader, said that they initially lived
\nin the area as ordinary settlers before converting their houses
\nin stages into shops in line with the increasing number of
\nneighbors.<\/p>\n
Both Mrs. Syaifulman and Mrs. Sitorus admitted that they lack
\nbuilding permits and never pay any land and building taxes.<\/p>\n
"We did not know about the city's plan to use the site as a
\ngreen belt until 1990 when the Rawa Kerbau market, adjacent to
\ntheir residence, was built," Syaifulman said.<\/p>\n
She explained that the authorities have actually provided them
\nwith kiosks on upper floors of the marketplace which are rarely
\nvisited by customers.<\/p>\n
When confronted by members of the commission about the amount
\nof compensation, the traders simply said that the government
\nshould pay a reasonable sum.<\/p>\n
For comparison, they said seven of their neighbors whose
\nhouses were demolished last year received compensation ranging
\nfrom Rp 1.5 million (US$688) to Rp 7 million depending on the
\nwidth of their houses.<\/p>\n
The members of City Council's Commission B which is in charge
\nof government, security and order affairs promised to contact the
\nauthorities to delay the demolition order. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traders-demand-damages-1447893297",
"image": ""
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