Evictions to cease during Ramadhan

Evictions to cease during Ramadhan

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The imminent arrival of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan
looks set to bring relief, if only for a while, to the city's
squatters as the administration has decided to put its eviction
policy on hold.

"The evictions will be halted during Ramadhan, but their
suspension is only temporary," said Governor Sutiyoso on Tuesday
after meeting four Jakarta mayors.

The decision would appear to be in line with a proposal
submitted on Oct. 9 by three human rights commissions -- the
National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan),
the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the
National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas Anak).

The three commissions called on the administration to announce
a moratorium on all evictions for 180 days pending an evaluation
of the city's eviction policy.

According to Sutiyoso, the evictions will resume after the
Idul Fitri holiday, although he did not specify the time frame.

He admitted that his policy was unpopular.

"I'm just trying to make the city secure and orderly," he
said.

The governor, who previously gained the full support of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri in his successful reelection bid
last year, is now facing criticism from Megawati's Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

His unpopular policy, according to the party, could cost the
party up to 80,000 votes.

The governor praised public order officers for carrying out
"peaceful evictions" along the banks of the Muara Angke river,
North Jakarta, and in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta.

This approach, he said, would be used as the model for future
evictions.

Meanwhile, some squatters in Pedongkelan, Kayu Putih
subdistrict, East Jakarta, have demolished their own houses
following the setting of Tuesday as the deadline by the
municipality administration.

Others, unhappy with the compensation offered by the
administration, insisted on staying put, saying they would be
ready and waiting when the public order officers arrive on
Wednesday.

In Kampung Menceng, Tegal Alur subdistrict, West Jakarta,
public order officers demolished dozens of intact houses on a
plot of vacant land. The occupants did not resist as the 400
officers went about their work.