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)