Indonesia joins Habitat II int'l conference

Indonesia joins Habitat II int'l conference

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian delegate to the second World Human
Settlement Conference (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey, said
yesterday that legal eviction will be among the more contentious
issues to be debated by conference participants.

Sumadi Brojo told a press conference here yesterday that
Indonesian authorities often have to evict people living
illegally on government land. The demolition is legal, but the
action itself poses many problems, he pointed out.

Sumadi cited as an example the government's intolerance of
river bank dwellers, as their settlements have proven to be one
of the causes of floods in Jakarta.

Upon being evicted, the river bank dwellers demanded
compensation from the government and various problems emerged, he
said.

Sumadi said that it is actually the dwellers who should pay
the government, because they have utilized the lands illegally.

Indonesia will send 60 delegates, led by Minister of Housing
Akbar Tanjung, to the conference. The conference will open on
June 3 and last until June 14.

The conference will be attended by 185 members of the United
Nations. It aims at establishing a global sustainable settlement
system and to provide sufficient housing for everyone.

Akbar Tanjung said yesterday that the Indonesian delegation
comprises -- among others -- central, provincial, and municipal
government officials, legislators, experts, and activists of non-
governmental organizations (NGOs).

Akbar also said he has formed a national committee for the
conference, which has prepared a report on the settlement
situation in Indonesia.

Indonesia will also participate in the Trade Fair Expo during
the conference, and has prepared a Rp 1 billion (US$429,553)
display of Indonesia's achievements in the housing sector.

Sumadi Brojo, who is member of the committee, predicted that a
number of issues are likely to invite heated debates between
developed and developing countries.

Among the issues he mentioned were international cooperation
and financial resources for housing and settlement. He pointed
out that many developing countries still need financial aid for
their housing programs, while the developed countries strive to
cut the aid.

The conference will organize a series of dialogues, including
one titled "How Cities Will Look in the 21st Century". Other
dialogue topics include "Water for Thirsty Cities", "The Future
of Urban Employment", and "Transport in the City of Tomorrow".

There will also be discussion on "Citizenship and Democracy in
the 21st Century", "Cities, Communication and the Media in the
Information Society" and "Creating Healthy Cities in the 21st
Century". (16)