Bogor government cancels demolition

Bogor government cancels demolition

BOGOR, West Java: Buckling under public pressure, the
mayoralty canceled over the weekend a plan to demolish an Islamic
boarding school built on state land.

The authorities instead asked the management of Nurul Imdad
school to obtain the necessary license, land title and building
permit.

Principal Ahmad Zaini Dahlan was glad to hear the news but
said he would not believe it until he obtained first-hand
information from the local government.

The authorities twice issued an order to demolish the school,
which has about 400 students, two weeks ahead of the May 29
election.

School officials said they believed the demolition threat was
linked to their refusal to support the government-backed
political party Golkar in the election. They backed the Moslem-
oriented United Development Party (PPP).

The school was opened by the local government last year and
the demolition threat meet strong opposition from both the school
and the public. (24/01)