Fire victims face eviction

Fire victims face eviction

The Central Jakarta Mayoralty gave Saturday a final option to
80 families living on the old fire site in Bendungan Hilir
subdistrict to take the compensation offered by the government or
face demolition.

A joint team, including police officials and military
personnel, is scheduled to pull down semi-permanent buildings
rebuilt on the location by the fire victims.

"Those who want to accept the compensation still have time
until Sunday," an official said.

The land clearance committee has offered the fire victims
compensation of Rp 235,000 (US$107) per square meter of land, far
below the Rp 1 million level asked by the land owners.

The city administration plans to build seven apartment
buildings at the site which was razed by fire recently.

Suara Pembaruan quoted a member of the team as saying on
Saturday that the decision to demolish the buildings was taken
after a meeting between the area residents and the mayoralty
administration officials. (bsr)