Jakarta in 2001: No room for the poor

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.