Daan Mogot families ask Rp 21b in compensation

JAKARTA (JP): At least 30 people visited City Hall on Friday, strongly demanding immediate compensation worth Rp 21 billion for the land occupied by the administration for Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta.

Representing 500 families, the group spokesman Mohamad Idris said they won the case -- which started in 1974 -- at the Supreme Court in January this year.

"We've fought for our rights for 24 years, from when the construction of the road had just begun. And, we won't stop until our demands are met," Mohamad said.

According to him, the disputed land covered the nearside lane of the westbound side of the street that stretches for about 11.5 kilometers from the Tanjung Duren bridge in West Jakarta to the Jakarta-West Java border in Tangerang.

A 1974 gubernatorial decree dated April 2 and a 1981 letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated June 15 both stated that the city administration should pay full compensation to the rightful owners of the land and buildings for the construction of Jl. Daan Mogot.

Ten of the protesters, led by Mohamad, were then invited to discuss the dispute with the head of the city's Law Agency, Hendroningsih.

West Jakarta Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra also took part in the meeting.

According to an executive of the city's Social Disturbance Control Center, Raya Siahaan, the same group of people had already met the councilors to seek immediate settlement for the land dispute.

The councilors then submitted the result of the meeting to the city administration for further implementation, he said.

"But the administration cannot pay them the compensation during these difficult times," Siahaan said. (ylt)