Citarum river banks to be cleared

The municipal authorities plan to make a clean sweep of the hundreds of shanties and other structures standing along the Citarum river bank in Cedeng, Central Jakarta, by the end of this month.

Chief of the City Public Works Office, IG Nyoman Suwandhi, said over the weekend that the demolition will be done by security officers if the squatters refuse to clear away the hovels by themselves.

Quoting City Regulation No. 11, 1988, Nyoman said that building structures along river banks is detrimental to public order.

"They have got to go!" he said.

The authorities have already informed the owners about the plan and asked them to move from the site on their own several times. "They have repeatedly disobeyed our orders," he said. "Moreover, their number has steadily grown."

Nyoman added: "We cannot be blamed if we have to demolish the structures. We have already followed the proper procedures."

Dadang Effendi, head of the Gambir district, which oversees the area, said that none of the occupants would receive compensation because they built their houses illegally on state land.

Data show that there are 250 structures standing along the Citarum river banks. Most of the occupants are from small villages in Java hoping for a better life in the capital. (bsr)