Govts guilty of illegal evictions

JAKARTA: The East Jakarta District Court on Thursday ordered the East Jakarta municipal and Makassar district administrations to rebuild houses in Pinang Ranti they had bulldozed in an illegal eviction earlier this month.

The court found the evictions and destruction of property in the three-hectare site were illegal because the two parties claiming the land had not resolved their legal dispute.

The court also ordered the administration to pay Rp 100 billion (US$10.8 million) to the squatters as compensation, Tempointeraktif.com news online reported.

Lawyer Arlys Charniago, who represents the East Jakarta administration, said after the trial the city would appeal the decision. -- JP