Further talks urged for Blok P cemetery removal
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)