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)