Evicted squatters threaten to build on other's land
Evicted squatters threaten to build on other's land
JAKARTA (JP): Many of the evicted North Kedoya riverbank dwellers, whose homes were demolished by the authorities, said they will erect shanties on land belonging to a real estate company even though they are aware that to do so is illegal.
A spokesman for the squatters told The Jakarta Post yesterday that they would soon move to the Green Garden housing complex to build shanties there. They said they cannot afford to rent housing.
Supri, the spokesman, said they had to pay Rp 150,000 ($67.50) per month for a shanty.
"I and my friends cannot afford to pay such an amount each month, I will erect a tent at the housing complex next month," he said.
"We don't know where to move since we have nothing left after the demolition," said Supri, who spoke for many of the 100 people who were forced to leave the riverbanks after their shanties were demolished.
The authorities took the measure to pave the way for the clean river program. The police made some 4,000 squatters quit the area. Many of them left for unknown destinations but hundreds are now renting shanties not far from the area.
Plan
Supri said he and his neighbors were quite aware that their plan to occupy part of the housing complex was illegal and that security officers would most likely drive them away again.
"But we have nowhere to go," he said.
The West Jakarta Mayoralty has offered them the alternative to go back to their birthplaces, with the government paying them Rp 50,000 for transportation, or of joining the government-sponsored transmigration program to islands outside Java. Most of the people rejected both ideas.
Those who claimed they built the shanties themselves said they turned down the transportation money because it meant nothing compared to their suffering after the demolition.
Only those who rented the shanties from others accepted the money.
Supri said that they also believe the homes they are now renting will eventually be bulldozed by security officers.
Meanwhile, about 100 residents of the southern part of Kedoya told the Post yesterday they would have to quit the area too because the mayoralty had given them their last warning. (03)