House demolition on hold for compensation deal

House demolition on hold for compensation deal

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi yesterday
agreed to call a halt to the demolition of houses on a disputed
plot of land in the Kebon Kacang sub-district until agreement is
reached between residents and a private developer on the price to
be paid for the land.

The mayor's decision followed renewed demands by one of the
two legislators who had earlier conveyed their objections to the
mayor.

This standoff is one of several points negotiated in a meeting
between Central Jakarta mayor Abdul Kahfi with legislators
Bachtiar Chamsyah and H.M. Mansur from the United Development
Party, who were speaking at the mayoralty office on behalf of the
19 families affected by the order.

"This situation does not look good," legislator Bachtiar told
the mayor, expressing dismay that a squad of some 300 security
personnel, equipped to face the worst, were deployed around the
vicinity, prepared to demolish three targeted houses.

According to the mayor, three residents have agreed to take
the compensation offered by the developer, and therefore their
houses were demolished.

The community, however, said it knew nothing of any such
agreement.

"We have been sticking together in this, and we would have
known about it if anyone had agreed," Bambang Julianto, a long-
time resident said.

According to Bambang, residents have been staying up all
night, holding meetings and drawing up a petition.

Legislators also proposed an increase in the land price, as
well as that the compensation money be transferred directly to
residents through saving accounts in their name, that residents
be given at least a month to look for a new place to live, that
residents be assisted and given priority if they wanted to
purchase a low-cost apartment units build around the city, and
that the area be surveyed.

On Wednesday, the demolition squad demolished two houses
despite protest.

The plot of land in question covers 2,300 square meters in a
prime part of the city. The private developer, PT Asia Troika, is
reportedly willing to pay Rp 2,350,000 per square meter of
uncertified land and Rp 2,6 million for certified land.

Residents are demanding Rp 4,750,000 and Rp 3,750,000
respectively.

M. Yanis from the mayoralty office said that the new price
would be announced in two days.

Budi Santoso, head of the community neighborhood, however,
said that residents had reached the end of their tether.

In 1989 some 300 houses were demolished after the owners
agreed to accept the developer's compensation of Rp 350,000 per
square meter.

"It's been a seven-year battle. We are tired of intimidations,
so we are entrusting our affairs to our legislators," Budi said.

Faced with uncertainties and the possibility of harsh
treatment by the authorities, many residents moved their
belongings outside, anticipating the worst.

Syaiful Ishar, a resident whose house was demolished on
Wednesday, said that he could not think of anything more
depressing than the officers' grim determination to demolish his
home. (14)