Further talks urged for Blok P cemetery removal

JAKARTA (JP): A councilor strongly urged the city administration yesterday to further discuss with the city council its plan to change the designated land use of the Blok P cemetery in South Jakarta.

"If there's a change, the administration should consult with us. They can't just make their own decisions," said Councilor Saud Rachman of Commission D for development affairs.

He was referring to the City Spatial Agency's plans to build an office for the South Jakarta mayoralty where the cemetery now stands. The land is a designated green area in the 1985/2005 spatial plan.

As part of its plan, the city has begun removing the remains of 4,626 bodies buried in the cemetery. The work is being done from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Sept. 21.

According to Saud of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, the council's approval on the change of land use is a must.

"If there was no control from the council, what would happen to the city?" he asked.

When asked to comment, head of the City Spatial Agency Ahmaddin Ahmad decided to ignore the councilor's request and go on with the plan.

He said yesterday that the change of the land's designated use needed no approval from councilors.

"We only need the governor's approval for the change, not councilors', because the land is a municipality asset and, therefore, it will be used by the municipality," Ahmaddin said.

Also yesterday, the City Funeral Agency, which has been assigned to remove the remains from the cemetery, voiced suspicion that some of the compensation to be paid to relatives of the dead people buried at the cemetery had been embezzled.

"I've received complaints from some families, saying they only got Rp 7,000 for three bodies. That's crazy because the official rate is Rp 50,000 per body," said Sjafril Zainuddin, head of the agency.

He promised to investigate the case and take severe action against guilty parties.

The cemetery contains the remains of 3,724 Moslems and 902 Christians. The Moslems will be moved to Srengseng Sawah public cemetery and the Christians to Kampung Kandang public cemetery. Both are in South Jakarta.

One of the funeral agency's problems is that some graves contain the remains of relatives of high-ranking officers. One is Ade Irma Nasution, the youngest daughter of Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution.

Sjafril said yesterday that he has contacted Ade Irma's family and guaranteed that she would be moved to Tanah Kusir cemetery within the area for senior Indonesian heroes. (ste/07)