Complaint against Kemayoran board

Complaint against Kemayoran board

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Kebon Kosong and Gunung Sahari
subdistricts are refusing to give up their land to the Kemayoran
Area Development Board saying that the compensation being offered
is far below the going rate.

Seven people, claiming to represent about 5,000 residents
whose land is being acquired by the board, lodged a formal
complaint with the City Council demanding better compensation.

The representatives told the councilors that they have been
offered only Rp 75,000 a square meter for their land and that the
going market price is over Rp 2 million.

"This is not fair," said Rahardjo Darsoprayitno, who spoke on
behalf of his colleagues. "We want Rp 2 million per meter."

They said the Kemayoran board set the compensation rate
without discussing it with the residents. There have not been any
negotiations since the agency first approached the residents
about procuring their land in 1990. The agency has only held two
public presentations.

So far, only 1,500 of 6,500 families have accepted the offer.

M. Aman of City Council said he would notify the Jakarta
governor about their grievance. He pointed out however that the
entire Kemayoran development project is administered by the State
Secretary and that questioning the matter is beyond the council's
authority. (yns)