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