Veterans upset over land appropriation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Purna Siluman Merah war-veterans
\nfoundation staged a protest yesterday at the House of
\nRepresentatives compound over the establishment of a golf course
\non their land.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the foundation, Marcel Mohammad, told reporters
\nthat members of the foundation filed their objections to the
\ndevelopment of the golf course, by PT Sarana Graha Sentosa, a
\ndeveloper owned by timber tycoon Bob Hasan, in a cooperation with
\nthe Air Force, on their land in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Out of the 60 hectares of land earmarked for the project,
\nabout 8.5 hectares are owned by the foundation. The developer has
\nappropriated it without giving compensation to the foundation,\"
\nMarcel said.<\/p>\n
He claimed that city administration gave the land to war
\nveterans for their participation in the independence struggle
\nduring the 1940s. \"Because we are the first battalion who arrived
\nin and defended Jakarta in 1949,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the foundation received proper permits from city
\nadministration in 1991 and 1994 to use the land.<\/p>\n
Marcel explained that the problem arose when the developer
\nexpressed its intention to build a golf course near the
\nfoundation's land. Since golf courses cover at least 60 hectares
\nof land, and the developer only had 53 hectares at that time, the
\ncompany decided to appropriated the foundation's land, without
\nany consultation.<\/p>\n
\"The foundation had plans to sell the appropriated land and
\nbuy cheaper land outside the city for its 800 members,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He demanded that the authorities help stop the development of
\nthe golf course and return the land to the veterans.<\/p>\n
Dozen of foundation members were seen displaying posters in
\nfront of the House of Representatives building after they failed
\nto meet with House members yesterday.<\/p>\n
The posters demanded justice, especially for war veterans.
\n\"Where is the appreciation of veterans when their rights are
\nviolated?\" one of the posters asked.<\/p>\n
Marcel said that 100 foundation members tried to protest at
\nthe golf course project in Ciganjur on Monday but they were
\nblocked by 30 military personnel from the Air Force.<\/p>\n
\"There was no incident because we decided to withdraw, but at
\nnight several members of the foundation who stayed at Ciganjur
\nwere ousted by the military,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Kompas, spokesman of the Air Force J. Paryanto
\nsaid the disputed land belongs to the Air Force, which currently
\nholds the legitimate land certificate to prove it.<\/p>\n
He said that the problem concerning the land was settled
\nearlier and it is up to the foundation to pursue the matter if it
\nstill claims to be the owner of the land. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/veterans-upset-over-land-appropriation-1447893297",
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