Fire victims rebuild homes amid uncertainty

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many squatters on the Ciliwung riverbank, whose homes were razed by a devastating fire last week, have started rebuilding them amid uncertainty over the fate of their future relocation.

The squatters were busy rebuilding semi-permanent homes at the burned-out remains of their houses, or upon the ruins of their completely razed properties.

Some were reconstructing collapsed walls with cement, some putting iron sheeting atop, while others rebuilt the foundations of their houses.

"We are not waiting for anything. The city administration's policy remains uncertain. Their promise is only an empty word," said Alamsyah, head of community unit 04, which was affected by the massive fire.

Alamsyah said many residents simply ignored the administration's pledge to relocate them.

"Why should we care about them (the administration)? They will not rebuild our homes," said a resident who declined to be identified.

He said he would object to being relocated, arguing that he had lived in the area for more than 30 years.

Alamsyah said life had gotten tougher for most of the victims who were unable to reconstruct their homes as they were broke.

"I have no money to rebuild my home as I lost all my belongings, including my money. If you want to give a donation, please give construction materials," said a resident, showing that she only managed to save some of her kitchen appliances.

According to Alamsyah, most of the squatters in the area work as garbage men, scavengers and do other odd jobs.

While many have started building their homes, most of the fire victims are living under poor conditions in temporary shelters among the debris of their destroyed homes.

Others have even covered their semi-burned-out houses with plastic sheeting as a temporary shelter.

The administration pledged earlier last week to relocate the squatters to low-cost apartments, as promised by Governor Sutiyoso upon his visit to the area, following the fire.

However the administration has failed to show any concrete plan in relocating the fire victims.

"It (the idea regarding low-cost apartments) is still being discussed," Sutiyoso said at City Hall on Wednesday.

Sutiyoso's statement was confirmed by City Planning Agency head Rusdy Yusuf, who said that the administration had yet to determine anything on the form of the relocation plan.

"We will think about their relocation. We have yet to decide anything about it," Rusdy said.

Sutiyoso claimed, however, that he had requested the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) donate some plots of land as a relocation site for the fire victims.

"I have requested IBRA, in a meeting with its representative yesterday, to donate some of its land to us. But, of course, I don't yet know the precise location," said Sutiyoso.

Rusdy revealed his agency had yet to send a letter to IBRA to request land for relocation purposes.

"We've produced the letter but not yet sent it," he said.