Evictees face rain, heat, Ramadhan hardship

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Only a few hours prior to the breaking the fast meal, heavy rain and strong winds forced hundreds of evicted fishermen and their families on the riverbanks of Muara Angke, North Jakarta, to huddle themselves into their boats or to their makeshift tents nearby.

Entering the fourth day of the Ramadhan fasting month, the evictees did not only struggle against hunger and thirst as required from Muslim during the holy month, they must also struggle against the scorching sun, the strong winds and the cold heavy rain.

"The toughest test is when the heat scorches us as we don't have roofs over our heads to protects us, yet we are not allowed to drink," said Waronah, a mother of two.

"So far I've passed the test and my daughter has also managed to fast for several days," she said proudly, looking at her 12- year-old daughter who was smiling shyly.

Waronah and her family no longer have a home. Their stilt-hut, along with around 200 other huts, were demolished by North Jakarta public order officers following the city administration's policy to clear land from squatters.

Now, the evicted fishermen and their families must live aboard their boats with only a plastic tent to protect them from the extreme weather conditons. They have been taking refuge to the protected woodland across from their former home which is only seven meters away.

However, the hardship has prevented some others to perform fasting.

"We have a lot of headaches and so many things have to be resolved, so some of us are not fasting continuously," said Kajidin, chairman of the Traditional Fishermen Union (SNT). Kajidin, who has been living in the area for around 20 years, looked embarrassed when admitting that.

The evictees have relied on food supplies from a public kitchen nearby, which was initiated by some concerned donors.

Some women were seen cooking meals while hundreds of others stood in line, waiting to get food.

However, some people even took advantage from the evictees' hardship.

"Yesterday, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver sneaked into the line to get a free meal," said Munaroh, a five-month pregnant mother whose duty was to arrange the meal distribution. "The residents noticed him and screamed at him to get out of the line," she said.

Munaroh complained that it was not easy to distribute the meals to the needy.

As she said it, two men were involved in a dispute as one accused the other of taking more than he deserved. Both were yelling at each other, while the other evictees just looked on.

Munaroh said that only a few evictees sometimes fought over the meals.

"Actually this task gives me headache, but because I'm fasting and I'm pregnant, I have to be cool-headed," she said.

When the sun was already setting and the nearby mosque calling for prayers, the rain began to diminish and the families fasting started to have their breaking of the fast meals aboard their boats.

Waronah and her children were also seen breaking of the fast meal with their humble menu: rice, salted-fish and three small crabs with chili sauce.