Illegal land appropriation

Illegal land appropriation

JAKARTA (JP): A member of the local Legislative Council wants
the Tangerang administration to take stern action against
speculators who appropriate land from local villagers through
intimidation.

Fauzi HI, vice chairman of the council, was quoted by the
Suara Pembaruan daily as saying that villagers in Kedaungwetan,
Selapajang Jaya, Neglasari and Karangsari were being forced to
sell their land at a maximum of Rp 15,000 (US$6.8) per square
meter.

Speculators allegedly moved in to appropriate about 300
hectares of land in the four villages as soon as the local
administration decided to allow six private companies to build
housing complexes there.

Fauzi said that the land appropriation done by the speculators
is illegal because they do not have the necessary permits from
the West Java governor.

The illegal land clearance by the speculators is believed to
be backed by persons in the Tangerang administration.(hhr)