House holds first hearing on land disputes
House holds first hearing on land disputes
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Dozens of people who claim ownerships of 28 disputed plots of
land in Jakarta's five mayoralties demanded on Thursday that
relevant government agencies help them gain their rights over the
plots that are now controlled by the government and businessmen.
The people aired their demands at a hearing held by the House
of Representatives (DPR) special committee on land disputes
attended by, among others, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, National
Land Agency (BPN) head Lufthi Nasution and the land owners or
their representatives.
It was the first hearing on land disputes at the House
involving representatives of the people, top officials and
relevant authorities.
The cases brought to the hearing are among the most
complicated land disputes due to the high number of parties
involved. The cases date back to the time when President Soeharto
was still in office.
The disputes revolve around ownership of the land now occupied
by Taman Anggrek shopping mall and condominium in West Jakarta,
the land controlled by PT Sahid Jaya International Hotel, Central
Jakarta, the land occupied by the DPR housing complex in South
Jakarta, and a number of plots occupied by government offices.
Suryadiredja, who represents people who claim ownership of the
land occupied by Taman Anggrek, said the case began when the land
authority issued ownership certificates for Yayasan Harapan Kita
foundation and PT Inti Mulya Pelangi in 1974.
Suryadiredja claimed that the previous owners of the land had
complete documents that confirmed their ownership over the
65,300-square-meter plot of land.
"We hope that the House members and relevant officials who
attend the meeting will help us gain our rights," Suryadiredja
told the hearing. He did not say how many people claimed
ownership of the land
Another land owner, Soesinto S. Soekowati, reported the city
administration to the meeting for occupying some 81,480 square
meters of land at Rawa Bunder subdistrict, Pasar Minggu, South
Jakarta without paying any compensation to the owners.
He showed the meeting evidence of their ownerships, adding
that he and others living on the land were evicted by the city
administration in 1973.
"The land used to be a swampy area. We filled the swamp with
land and built houses there, but we were evicted in 1973," he
added.
Chairman of the House's special committee for land disputes I
Nyoman Gunawan said the committee would set up several working
groups to study the problems thoroughly.
"This hearing will not make any conclusions because we will
carry out a comprehensive study about the issues through the
working groups, which we will establish soon," Nyoman said.
Meanwhile, head of the National Land Agency Lufthi Nasution
said his office was prepared to revise the land certificates
issued by his agency if the people could show evidence of their
ownership.
"We are prepared to correct our mistake. I hope we can find
the best solution to these problems," Lufthi said.
However, he proposed that the disputing parties find a
compromise settlement.
A similar statement was made by Sutiyoso, who also expressed
readiness to help solve the land disputes. He also pledged to
summon the developers or businessmen involved to seek a
compromise.
In regard to land disputes involving the city administration,
Sutiyoso said his administration would take a legal approach.
He revealed that his administration had paid Rp 21 billion
(US$2.4 million) for a plot of land on Jl. Daan Mogot, West
Jakarta, after the city administration lost the case in a legal
battle.