Evictees told it's time to vacate Komnas premises

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

After living behind the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Jl. Latuharhari in Central Jakarta for 10 months, hundreds of people who were forcibly evicted from their homes were told on Wednesday to clear the area.

"We asked Komnas HAM to give us another day to find some rented rooms," said Mama, 40, whose house in Cengkareng Timur, West Jakarta, was demolished by public order officers last September.

About 300 people from Cengkareng Timur and Tanjung Duren moved into the yard of the Komnas HAM office about 10 months ago, when their homes were demolished during evictions ordered by the city administration. The families crowded into whatever empty spots they could find behind the Komnas building.

Currently, only 29 families are remaining in the compound.

Mama said Komnas HAM officials had promised to give each of the families Rp 2.5 million (US$277.80) to help them settle in a new location.

"Some of us have rented rooms in Cengkareng for Rp 350,000 a month," said Yati, another evictee from Cengkareng. "We are trying to move back to Cengkareng because that is where we used to live."

Yati said her main purpose in remaining at the Komnas HAM office was to put pressure on the rights commission to complete its investigation into violence that occurred during the evictions.

"We took the money because we badly needed it, not because we expected them to give it to us. Since we have been living here, we have earned money by working as street singers."

She complained that the rights commission had not done enough to help the evictees.

An official with the rights commission, Taheri Noor, who was a member of the mediation team for eviction affairs, said his team had done its job.

"We arranged meetings between the victims, the city administration and all related parties," he said. "We also took care of the victims' needs, providing health facilities, food for several weeks and temporary shelter."

"However, Komnas officials also have the right to work in proper conditions. Frankly, we feel annoyed by their presence here," he said.

Taheri said Komnas HAM had raised money from individuals and institutions to help the victims begin a new life.

"We hope Rp 2.5 million is enough for each family," he said.

As for the investigation into violence during the evictions, Taheri said it had been completed by another team at the commission.

The victims earlier said Komnas HAM had questioned only 10 witnesses about the alleged violence.