Demolition goes on under tight security measures

Demolition goes on under tight security measures

JAKARTA (JP): The second day of demolition of shanties in Kedoya Utara and Kembangan, West Jakarta, continued smoothly yesterday, despite earlier confrontations with residents.

Some of dispossessed people even pulled down their own homes. Only two housewives staged a protest by removing their blouses in front of the officials at the demolition site.

Yesterday's scene was much cooler than the first day of demolition on Wednesday, when angered residents hurt seven people, including two journalists.

At least 150 shanties were demolished yesterday, most in Kembangan and the remainder in Kedoya Utara. All the shanties demolished had been located on the bank of the Angke River. The city administration has been carrying out a Clean River Program, which includes the clearing of squatters' shanties from the city's riverbanks.

Hundreds of residents were busy yesterday, carrying their belongings from their homes prior to the demolition.

One newly-homeless former resident of the area said that most of the dispossessed people had removed their belongings the night before.

"It's better for us to save our belongings than let them be wrecked by the officials," Agus said. "We have no choice. We will never win in a fight against the officials, who are backed by the police and the military," he added.

Although there was no resistance from residents, dozens of police and soldiers kept watch over the demolition, which was carried out using three bulldozers, sledge hammers and crowbars.

Police arrested four people for allegedly leading residents in resisting the demolitions on Wednesday.

One resident told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the four residents arrested -- Sembiring, Herman, Acip and Mamat -- had not yet been released.

Gunawan, another resident, said that Wednesday's clash would not have happened if the officers were open to discussion.

He said residents became very angry and threw stones at officers after police and soldiers prohibited them from talking with the head of the mayoralty's Office of Security and Order.

Four people representing the residents visited the City Council yesterday to report on the demolitions to commission A for administration, security and order. However, most of the commission's members were out of town on a picnic.

Councilor Djenni Suharso, the only commission member available, told reporters that she regretted the incident.

Karsidin, head of the West Jakarta mayoralty's security and order office, said that the authorities had warned residents repeatedly.

"The residents demanded that the Jakarta state administrative court revoke the West Jakarta mayor's demolition order," he said, adding that their demand was not met.

He denied that the demolition had been requested by property development company PT Green Garden, which has recently completed a housing complex near the shanty town. (29)