Claimants occupy Danau Bogor Raya

BOGOR (JP): Some 30 people, claiming to be children and grandchildren of a man who died 64 years ago, are occupying a part of the vast Danau Bogor Raya housing complex at Tegal Harendong village of Cimahpar area here.

The people are demanding Rp 3 billion compensation from the developer of the upmarket housing complex for 1.5 hectares of land, which they claim belonged to the late Muhali bin Piang.

"We won't leave the site unless the developer gives us the compensation we are demanding," said 82-year-old Rosid, who claims to be one of the heirs.

Rosid said the developer had purchased the land from Muhali's children from his third wife.

Rosid and the other people, who have built a small hut on Blok I of the complex, said they were children and grandchildren of Muhali and his first wife, the legal heirs.

According to Rosid, the land was sold without the knowledge of Rosid and his seven sisters and brothers.

He said he only learned that the land had been sold in 1994, when he returned to the area after spending years in Subang, West Java.

They, however, insist that the land is still theirs and have refused to meet their half-brothers and half-sisters to solve the problem.

"This is our land being occupied by Danau Bogor Raya. That's it! We won't do business with other parties," Rosid said.

Representatives of the developers of the housing complex, previously known as Bogor Lake Side, could not be reached for comment.

"I can't comment on it because Pak Andre, who's in charge of land appropriation, is not in," said staffer Jono. (24/bsr)