Evicted squatters brace for rainy season

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

First the eviction, now the rainy season. These are the challenges faced by families now living in makeshift tents where their homes used to stand, before they were torn down by public order officers.

Rahmo, one of about 10,000 residents evicted from a 5.5- hectare plot of land owned by PT Cakra Wira Bumi Mandala in Jembatan Besi, West Jakarta, in late August, said because he and his family were not supposed to be on the land, he had to put up a crude tent at dusk and dismantle it at dawn.

His wife, Sari, nursing their three-month-old daughter, said that when it rained they had to huddle together beneath a plastic sheet.

Even though times are hard, the family still thanks God that they are all healthy and safe.

"Alhamdullilah (thank God), we and the baby are healthy," said Rahmo, a scavenger.

Rahmo said that after his family was evicted, they did not receive any medical attention or aid of any kind.

"If we get sick, we can go to the nearest public health center and pay to be seen by a doctor," he said.

Rahmo, Sari and their daughter are not the only family living where their houses used to stand. Six other families are also living there in makeshift tents.

The families get water from leaking water pipes. They have built a crude toilet hidden from view.

Much the same is happening on 15 hectares of land in Tanjung Duren Selatan subdistrict, West Jakarta, next to Mal Taman Anggrek.

Dozens of families who were evicted from the land on Oct. 2 have built makeshift tents next to an abandoned building. When it rains they sneak into the building for shelter.

Most of the people here are suffering from respiratory diseases, rashes and diarrhea. They have not received medical aid but on Friday the Indonesian Red Cross gave them instant noodles and milk.

Some of them said they could not sleep at night.

"I have headaches all the time," Dina Siregar told The Jakarta Post as the rain began to fall.