Evictees told it's time to vacate Komnas premises
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.