Drama of Land Eviction in Kalideres, Residents Initially Refuse Relocation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Efforts to clear the cemetery land owned by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government in RT 02 RW 07 Kamal, Kalideres, West Jakarta, on Monday (6/4/2026) were marked by unrest. Affected residents initially blocked heavy machinery because they were unwilling to be relocated far away to flats in North Jakarta. This forced eviction was carried out to return the land as a government asset, which is planned to be developed into a new public cemetery (TPU). On Monday morning, ahead of the start of the building demolition activities by the government, residents came face-to-face with combined security forces. Under the scorching sun, residents blockaded the road and unfurled banners reading, “We demand open negotiations, We are not illegal residents.” Amid the pushing and shoving, several women stood at the front line, crying hysterically and pleading with the officers. “We built our houses here with our own money, sir!” said one resident. “So we approached them, with a bit of coercion to get them to vacate this area and empty it, and move to the flats or independently,” explained Raditian at the scene on Monday. He stated that the deadline for residents to demolish independently or follow relocation had actually been given until Sunday (5/4/2026). “Yes, that’s right, this morning we all saw that the residents still want to hold on to the homes they’ve lived in for so long, even though it must be acknowledged that this is government land,” he said. The strong rejection by residents was triggered by the relocation options from the West Jakarta City Government, which initially directed them to Nagrak Flats, Cilincing, or Rorotan, all located in North Jakarta. Nani, a resident who claimed to have lived on the land for 20 years, considered the distance to the flats too far from her original home in Kamal. “All the options offered are in North Jakarta. But my work is here, my child goes to school here, my husband works in Tangerang. It’s impossible, it’s too far,” Nani complained.