22-year-old land dispute in E. Java sees light

22-year-old land dispute in E. Java sees light

JAKARTA (JP): A solution to the 22-year-old dispute over the appropriation of an 88-hectare plot of land in Surabaya began taking shape yesterday when the realtor offered substitute land and higher compensation for the displaced residents.

The realtor, PT Darmo Permai, has offered cash in compensation for the property but about 500 of the affected families consider it too cheap and reject it.

The latest development in the land dispute was announced by officials of the National Commission on Human Rights after they met behind the closed doors with the realtors and Surabaya city officials here.

Commission member A.A. Baramuli told reporters after the meeting that the rights body would send a delegation to Surabaya to communicate the latest development with the affected residents.

The commission has been playing a mediatory role in the land dispute although some critics say that by doing so it has crossed its line of responsibility.

"Surabaya municipality officials and PT Darmo Permai agreed to provide 200 square meters of land to each of the 476 families and to raise the (financial) compensation," Baramuli said.

Baramuli declined to disclose how much the realtor would raise the compensation.

The land acquisition process began in 1973 when PT Darmo Permai planned to develop the area into a posh housing complex, offering compensation of Rp 100 per square meter of land.

The company claimed that many of the land owners had received the money but refused to move. Now they are demanding that they again be given compensation at Rp 10,000 per square meter. Those who have never received compensation are seeking up to Rp 150,000 per square meter.

They also demand that the realtor compensate them for their houses and provide substitute land. (29)