Evicting 'illegal' residents

Evicting 'illegal' residents

From Koran Tempo

Within a matter of minutes, thousands of residents of Pondok
Kopi, Ancol Timur, Bantaran Angke and Teluk Gong lost their
homes, as the Jakarta administration evicted them from their
allegedly illegal dwellings.

I don't know why their homes were said to be illegal. Aren't
they Indonesian citizens? In whose eyes were these homes illegal?
Isn't the government responsible for providing them with decent
homes?

The city administration should convert their houses to a
decent place to live and not evict them inhumanely. Doesn't the
government realize that its policy to throw people at the
grassroots level out of their homes will produce negative
impacts, such as the perpetration of criminal acts and strong
feelings of revenge?

NENI INDRIATI

Jakarta