20 residents seek Rp1.6b compensation
JAKARTA (JP): Twenty residents of Tugu Utara in North Jakarta have demanded Rp 1.6 billion (US$216,216) in compensation from the state harbor operator PT Pelindo II for a 7,000-square-meter plot of land which the firm appropriated from them.
The Koja district residents made their demand during a visit to the National Commission on Human Rights, where they were seeking help to settle their dispute with Pelindo.
They claimed the land belonged to Kasih Amad, a resident who had cultivated the site for 36 years.
"Kasih Amad's ownership of the land was confirmed by a team set up by the city administration on Oct. 13, last year," Yamin, one of Kasih's heirs, said.
Yamin said the land was appropriated by PT Pelindo II in 1995 to build a school to replace one demolished by the company during the expansion of the nearby container terminal. No compensation was paid, he added.
The company told them it had bought the land from a resident named Arif Biki for Rp 1.6 billion, he said.
"We don't know who Arif Biki is. We think there is collusion going on between PT Pelindo II employees and officials from the local district and subdistrict offices," he said.
The land dispute began after PT Pelindo II and PT Humpuss, a private company controlled by former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra, announced their intention to appropriate 90 hectares of land to expand the container terminal several years ago.
Yamin said the harbor operator paid Rp 400 million in compensation to Kasih's lawyer, identified as Abdul Rojak Daud.
The lawyer then asked Kasih, who was illiterate, to put his thumb print on a piece of paper and later gave him Rp 40 million in return, he said.
"We have parted company with the lawyer. My relative would not have agreed to do that if the lawyer had explained the full contents of the document," Yamin said.
B.N. Marbun and Soegiri from the human rights commission said they would study the matter and suggested that Kasih and his relatives take the case to court. (jun)