20 residents seek Rp1.6b compensation

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)