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)