Govt denies new talks over Koja

Govt denies new talks over Koja

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Transportation yesterday denied
reports that it has reopened negotiations on the amount of land
compensation owed to residents of the Koja Utara subdistrict in
North Jakarta.

A release made available to The Jakarta Post said that SM
Hasan Saman, a representative of the Koja Utara residents, had
misinterpreted the results of a meeting on Oct. 31 between
representatives for the Ministry, state-owned port company PT
Perum Pelabuhan II (Pelindo II) and Hasan himself.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation Salam Susanto
said that the meeting was aimed only at accommodating complaints
from the residents and at showing the government's concern over
the matter.

Last week, however, Hasan claimed that the ministry and PT
Pelindo II have reopened negotiations by involving the
participation of local residents to resolve the matter.

Saman said that the local residents have maintained their
earlier decision to demand compensation of Rp 2.27 million per
square meter. This demand is based on the value of taxable
properties and the presidential decree on land appropriation, he
said.

The dispute over land compensation arose after PT Pelindo II
announced last year it would appropriate 90 hectares of the land
inhabited by 9,037 families (almost 40,000 people.) The company
plans to build a new cargo terminal expansion project in a joint-
venture with PT Humpuss. The new terminal, built at a cost of
US$498-million, is expected to start operations in October 1998.

After a number of sessions failed to reach an agreement, North
Jakarta Mayor Soeprawito decided to break the deadlock by
offering between Rp 100,000 (US$46.8) and Rp 160,000 ($75) per
square meter, Rp 10,000 higher than the rate set by PT Pelindo
II. This offer, however, was rejected by the residents. (yns)