Hundreds lose their homes

Hundreds lose their homes

JAKARTA: East Jakarta Mayoralty officers on Tuesday completely
demolished hundreds of houses at Kampung Garapan in the Pondok
Kopi area.

"There was no clash during today's demolition because the
residents surrendered in desperation when faced with the powerful
joint operation by the mayoralty officers and the police,"
Afrizal Malna, an activist with the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC)
said.

The residents tried to stop the demolition, which started on
Monday, resulting in a clash that injured two residents, four
mayoralty officers and a policeman, according to a police report.
Seven others were arrested.

Brig. Juned, an East Jakarta police detective, said on Tuesday
that all of them had been released.

The houses were demolished to make way for the extension of
the Pondok Kopi public cemetery. --JP