Evictees seeks help from right body

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of evicted local people who had been living on disputed land at Kampung Baru, Cengkareng Timur in West Jakarta, filed a complaint on Thursday with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) following their violent eviction on Wednesday.

They brought with them evidence of the violence including helmets of the public order officers, batons, sharp weapons and a blood-tainted riot shield.

Representatives of the families, whom the city views as squatter, also demanded that the rights commission hold an inquiry to summon the city administration, the police and officials of the state-owned housing company Perum Perumnas.

Komnas HAM vice chairman Solahudin Wahid said that the rights commission just met Perum Perumnas officials on Tuesday and he seemed to imply that there would be a delay in the eviction raid, pending further negotiation with the families who they said illegally occupied the state's property.

"We cannot allow violence," he said, adding that such acts showed the administration's arrogance and violates the residents' right to protection.

Solahudin also deplored the comment made earlier by Governor Sutiyoso who said that the eviction of the Kampung Baru "squatters" was nothing unusual because there were no fatalities and those who did not have Jakarta ID cards were not his residents.

"A governor should not say such things, it's very arrogant," he said.

One of the victims, Johanes, 27, showed up at the Komnas HAM office with an injury to his head. He said that two others were still being treated at the Cengkareng Hospital after sustaining gun wounds and lacerations caused by sharp weapons.

During Wednesday's eviction, the clash involving the police and public order officers pitted against the residents resulted in at least 23 injuries to the defenders. Two officers were also reportedly hurt. The clash erupted as the administration began to bulldoze the houses down.