Ex-landowners to take over Kapuk Muara housing complex

JAKARTA (JP): Sixty-two families claiming to own the 36- hectare plot which was used to develop a housing complex in Kapuk Muara, North Jakarta, vowed to reoccupy their land unless they received proper compensation from the developer.

In a meeting with members of the National Commission on Human Rights here on Wednesday, six men representing the 62 ex- landowners said they had decided to take this move to express their anger with both PT Grisenda, the developer of the housing complex, and the city administration.

"We have just learned that we were cheated," the representatives' spokesman, Herry, said.

According to him, the residents agreed to move from the land in 1977 when the city administration told them that the site would be used for a public cemetery.

For the sake of "the public", the owners willingly left their property even though they only received Rp 300 per square meter in compensation.

However, 14 years later, they found that the city administration had sold the site for Rp 9.7 billion to PT Grisenda, owned by businessman Sudwikatmono, a close relative of then president Soeharto, Herry said.

"We're really disappointed," he added.

When confronted, he said, the city administration denied the accusation.

Officials claimed that the site was handed over to Grisenda in exchange for a plot of land in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, owned by the developer. The officials said this plot of land would later be used as a public cemetery, Herry stated.

When the landowners visited the site in Tegal Alur, they found a public cemetery which had been under the supervision of the city administration long before the deal with Grisenda, he said.

The six representatives visited the commission to seek support for their plans to reoccupy the land.

The families will only cancel their plans if the developer agrees to pay them Rp 100,000 per square meter in compensation for their land.

The landowners, Herry said, have reported Sudwikatmono and city officials to the Attorney General's Office but have yet to receive a response.

Commission member B.N. Marbun suggested the landowners stage a demonstration at the site in order to attract public attention.

"We support your actions. You have been mistreated for years," Marbun said.

Herry stated that the housing complex, only 25 percent of which had already been developed, had been empty since last year's May riots.

PT Grisenda's site office was destroyed during the rioting, he said.

The developer could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. (jun)