Fishermen complain over intimidation

JAKARTA (JP): Some 100 people from 206 fishing families who are being forced out of their homes in East Ancol, North Jakarta, filed a complaint with the National Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday, accusing the North Jakarta mayoralty of intimidation.

"The mayoralty and the military have intimidated us three times this month," Heru, the spokesman for the group, told The Jakarta Post.

He said North Jakarta Mayor Subagio, escorted by dozens of military personnel, visited their village on June 1, telling the families to leave the area soon. The secretary of the mayoralty, Simanjuntak, and his staff made a similar visit on June 14, he said.

Heru also said that on June 19, a noncommissioned Army officer responsible for the management of village affairs, Second. Sgt. Sutarjo, warned a number of residents who were fixing their homes to discontinue their work.

"What's the use of fixing the huts if they will soon be cleared away," Heru quoted the officer as saying.

The mayoralty is moving the fishing families out of the area to make way for the development of water sports facilities, and offered to relocate them to Marunda, also in North Jakarta. The government also offered each family between Rp 3 million and Rp 5 million in compensation.

The families refused the offer, saying Marunda was five kilometers from the sea and they were afraid they would no longer be able to fish if they moved. (01)