Flags prevent demolition plan

BOGOR (JP): City officers failed on Wednesday to demolish 184 houses which have no building permits in Bojong Kaso village of Cileungsi here after each of the house owners raised the national red-and-white and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle flags.

Head of the City Inspectorate Office, Tb. Deddy Hediana, said he prompted the delay because he did not want to be accused of criminal conduct by lowering the national flag.

"We don't want to be blamed for taking down the flags. We just want to tear down the buildings," Deddy said.

Deddy said the residents were accused of illegally taking over the 17-hectare plot of land belonging to Sjaifuddin Syah Nasution. The residents had been thrice notified to abandon the plot, Deddy added.

Another official, Iqbal, said the residents who mostly came from Pancoran Mas in Depok, had lost their land in a dispute with the local administration and health ministry office a few weeks earlier.

Witnesses said the residents also attacked the city officers who were carrying out the demolition.

Chief of Bogor Police precinct Bambang Wasgito insisted that none of his troops would be sent to back up the operation. He instead suggested that the city administration seek a compromise with the residents.

Bambang said he would only deploy police officers if there is a court ruling on the status of the land. (21/07)