Jakarta in 2001: No room for the poor

Azas Tigor Nainggolan, Jakarta Residents Forum (FAKTA), Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ)

An expression heard all too often in this city is "the cruelty of Jakarta," which reflects the feelings of many a migrant who has come here, seeking a better life, only to discover just how tough the capital really is.

For those from poor economic backgrounds, it is almost impossible to have a decent existence, or find a proper job. They have to cram into rickety huts in squalid slums, and toil endlessly as pedicab drivers or vendors. Ironically, the city administration does not even recognize or extend protection to such people.

Rather, the administration feels that they have tarnished the city's image, forcing them to remove or demolish their settlements as they are held responsible for breaching the City Regulation no. 11 1986 on public order.

Since the regulation became effective, millions of people have lost their homes. Many have criticized the policy, and appealed that the Jakarta administration revoke the regulation -- but to no avail.

This year, we have witnessed a number of forced evictions and demolishing of homes -- in addition to inhumane treatment of the victims who have even complained of sexual harassment. They are also routinely robbed of their belongings -- or, worse, shot at -- during demolition process.

For the first time, the National Commission for Human Rights, the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Children's Protection have paid attention to such cases.

The three institutions seem to have been awakened from their deep slumber following repeated pestering by victims who have come to their offices. Representatives of the institutions came to see Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and called him to temporarily cease the 100-day eviction program, which started on Nov. 20.

The policy to remove these people from their homes is absurd and barbaric, as if there is no space for the poor in Jakarta or more precisely: Jakarta is not intended for the poor.

Authorities always argue that they have consulted all plans with the city council and competent advisers, while residents stay ignorant of what the city plans are, and how they will effect them.

Similarly, the administration has never involved residents who will be subjected to eviction in discussions, on what will happen to them and on possible solutions. Hence, the city is subjected to protests from many parties opposed to this policy, each time it carries out eviction of settlers.

Close scrutiny is a must regarding the city's policies to avoid people being evicted at will.

Despite heated political conditions, in early 2001 there were not many eviction-related problems. Unfortunately, the two weeks after Megawati Soekarnoputri took over the helm of the state from Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) marked the return of the use of force against Jakarta's poor.

On Aug. 14, public order officials conducted a raid on pedicabs and confiscated them in Roxy, Central Jakarta. A few days later, the public order officials and police demolished the sheds of car washers along Jl. D.I. Panjaitan and Klender, East Jakarta and destroyed their equipment. Their houses on Jl. A. Yani, East Jakarta were forcefully demolished around 11:30 p.m.

The house owners were threatened at gunpoint by the police.

Midnight eviction also took place against sidewalk vendors along Jl. Jen. Sudirman and Jl. M. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. Their carts and wares were seized when the owners were away. When they came to the city administration office, they could not find their things. They had all vanished into thin air.

Again, authorities like to argue that a notice has been issued prior to the raid and that compensation money is available. One may wonder, then, why the raid was conducted at midnight, and then, at gun point.

On Oct. 26, the eviction of residents along Kali Banjir Kanal, North Jakarta, involved setting their homes ablaze after demolishing them. As the residents were trying to save their children and belongings, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to keep them at bay.

Have all these authorities lost their conscience? Have they lost all feelings so that they are incapable of imagining what would happen to the residents evicted from their houses? Have they ever imagined being in the position of the evicted residents or pedicab drivers or vendors, hunted down while merely trying to earn a living?

Have they ever wondered how pedicab drivers or the vendors would feel upon finding that their means of supporting their families have suddenly disappeared?

From January to November 2001, authorities seized some 3,000 pedicabs, leaving about 6,000 pedicab drivers jobless, and destroyed the stalls of some 2,700 sidewalk vendors and evicted 6,774 families (or 34,514 people) from their homes.

The victims of the raids have been treated worse than animals. When compensation money -- in whatever form -- is available, this seldom reaches the victims.

Councillors seem blind to their plight, and forgotten their sworn tasks as city councillors.

When these victims come to protest, councillors are usually conspicuously absent in their Hyundai cars, gifts from the city administration -- which according to news reports were purchased with money allocated for garbage vans.

While thousands of the working poor have lost their homes, also through fire accidents, councillors have, characteristically, ordered that a new building be built for them -- complete with a fitness center and sauna -- estimated to cost some Rp 30.5 billion. Prior to this, 85 councillors asked for Rp 4.2 billion in insurance premiums. Only after much criticism from the public was the request finally turned down.

Instead of working responsibly, while enjoying their perks, councillors have approved many of the city's projects, wasting funds which could have been of much better use.

A gorilla is to be imported from England and it was reported that the city has allocated Rp 3.5 billion a year to feed it.

Then, to rehabilitate toilets in Ragunan Zoo, they will fork out hundreds of millions of rupiahs from the budget.

All these plans show that city officials and councillors have neither morality, nor dignity. They extort people through higher taxes and levies on electricity and water.

The city should treat its residents better than animals, or toilets, in Ragunan Zoo. If they can make thorough plans before buying a gorilla or rehabilitating the zoo's toilets, why don't they do so before demolishing homes, driving out vendors or trying to prevent flooding?

Governor Sutiyoso and the Jakarta council should change their approaches in building this city. Preventive, consistent and communicative acts should be taken to ensure an end to evictions.

A system must also be set up to prevent officials from abusing their positions. It will likewise prevent them from extorting residents. Sites intended for residential or business purposes should never be turned into residential areas, shopping compounds or sites for vendors.

Regulations must be implemented and violations, should be avoided. All officials must consistently refuse to receive money from residents as a reward for not penalizing a violation.

Prevention and consistency will be established if there is public space for the residents, and the means to carry out proper, mutual, communication.

Residents or city authorities could reveal all their desires, and build an agreement, as well as reach the best solution for both parties. Such communication will be established if residents and city administrators keep the spirit of building Jakarta alive -- without eviction. Equal recognition and protection must be afforded to all Jakarta residents, formally or otherwise.

By 2002, City Ordinance no. 11/1988 on public order should be revoked, because it does not provide justice to all Jakarta's residents.

Then, the interest of a person as a human being must be elevated above all else. God has bestowed upon human beings a higher dignity than to a gorilla.