300 evicted Kedoya families refuse to leave

300 evicted Kedoya families refuse to leave

JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 300 families squatting on the
banks of the Angke river in Kedoya, West Jakarta, are refusing to
leave the site without adequate compensation from the
authorities.

According to a city official the families have been offered up
to Rp 300,000 each to leave their plywood shanties built close to
the river and due for destruction under the government's "clean
river" program.

Residents said that since the evictions began in November, the
authorities have bulldozed and burned the rebuilt shanties twice.

"We will remain here no matter how many times they try to
chase us out by destroying our shanties," resident Emon Chaniago
told The Jakarta Post. He added that he and his fellow squatters
do not have anywhere to move to.

The families have demanded fair compensation, claiming that
they have lived on the site for more than 10 years and have
legitimate Jakarta identity cards.

The residents have brought the matter to the National
Commission on Human Rights and to the city legislative council
several times.

The authorities finally agreed to give them some "pocket
money", ranging from Rp 50,000 ($22.5) to Rp 100,000. The
residents regard the money as nothing compared to their
grievances and the need to find another place to live.

"Some people have accepted the money because they were
intimidated by the security officers," Masa Tarigan, another
residents said. There were originally 1,000 families on the site

Tarigan also said that the city legislature's statement that
the West Jakarta mayor has settled the matter with the residents
is totally wrong.

"We never agreed to this treatment or to the compensation
offered," he said.

While most of the people have finally accepted the money and
left the area, the remaining 300 families in North Kedoya have
insisted on staying even after they were offered Rp 300,000 by
the city administration, he said.

The evicted Kedoya residents, who are mostly low-paid
construction laborers and public transportation drivers, have
reportedly stayed with their relatives or rented houses in
Tangerang and Bekasi.

"They still come to Jakarta to do their jobs," Marbun, another
resident said.

Solutions

The two alternative solutions -- living in a low-cost
apartment or resettlement program -- offered by the authorities
are unrealistic, he said.

He said the squatters cannot afford to pay the price of an
apartment and they are totally unfamiliar with agricultural work
in the proposed resettlement areas.

An assistant to the West Jakarta mayor, Solichin, told the
Post yesterday that the city administration has no more money to
pay the squatters. "We have tried to give them some money even
though we are not obliged to and it is not in our budget."

He said the 300 families could be tenants or house owners who
have received compensation though claiming they have not.

More than 400 families and thousands of other river bank
squatters elsewhere on the river are next in line for eviction,
Solichin said. (03)