Four arrested in mass demolition

Four arrested in mass demolition

JAKARTA (JP): Four people were arrested yesterday for resisting the demolition of more than 650 shanties in Kedoya Utara, West Jakarta.

Seven others were injured, including mayoralty officials, a resident and journalists from the Pos Kota and Terbit dailies.

The clash between the shanty owners and the local police officers broke out when the mayoralty began pulling down 443 shanties in Kedoya Barat and 250 in Kembangan. All the structures stood along the Angke riverbank.

The authorities had just pulled down 30 houses, 26 in Kembangan and four in Kedoya Barat when the residents got angry and began stoning the police.

The Pos Kota reporter was hurt when she tried to escape the angry mob attack, while one of the mayoralty officials was hospitalized for serious head injuries.

The demolition turned into 'battle site' when the officials, backed by policemen and military soldiers, pushed back the crowd.

Police confirmed the arrest of four people, whose identities were are being withheld.

The police said the four residents were reportedly arrested for influencing the residents to resist the demolition.

One resident said that the authorities failed to notify the residents about the demolition plan. "We have been treated improperly," he said.

Despite the protests, Karsidin, head of the West Jakarta security and order office, said that demolition would go on. "All structures standing along the riverbank will be pulled down. The job must be done this week."