Clean river program comes under fire

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors are criticizing the city administration's handling of its clean river program, which usually results in the demolition of shanties along the riverbanks.

Mohammad Aman, chairman of the city council's commission for administration, security and public order, said yesterday that the program must be conducted consistently and in all areas of the city.

"Many people assume that the authorities have certain objectives behind its sporadic actions," he said, citing the recent demolition of squatter housing along the Ciliwung in Central Jakarta as an example.

Sources in City Hall said the squatter houses were pulled down suddenly as the mayoralty made plans for a raft race scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 29. Four ministers are expected to attend the opening ceremony.

The councilor also cited the sporadic "raids" on roadside vendors conducted by the mayoralties. The authorities have been targeting the roadside vendors that operate in prohibited areas for years.

Fatommy Asaari, the deputy chairman of the commission, said such random actions will never solve the problem.

The evicted squatters and roadside vendors will move to other areas and the authorities will probably take action again once they are established in their new places, he added. (32)