Clean river program comes under fire

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)