Kali Opak people upset over demolition plan

Kali Opak people upset over demolition plan

JAKARTA (JP): About 100 residents of the Kali Opak riverbank
in Penjaringan subdistrict, North Jakarta, yesterday filed a
complaint over a demolition plan.

The residents' spokesman, Edi Suwarto, said residents were
never consulted about the North Jakarta mayoralty's plan.

"The mayoralty only sent an order to demolish our houses," Edi
said. He said the order issued by the Penjaringan district also
contained a threat that the mayoralty will destroy their homes if
residents refuse to do so.

"We are afraid to lose our homes. We don't know where to go
because we don't want to go back to our hometowns," Edi told the
council's commission A for government affairs.

"The district chief said the demolition will be conducted on
Monday," he said.

Edi said that there are more than 4,000 people residing on a
one-hectare plot, including some who have lived there for 20
years.

The demolition is part of a plan to cleanup the Opak River.
The program also includes the upgrading of the Museum Bahari and
the Pasar Ikan areas.

The residents acknowledged their homes stand on government
property. They also said they do not oppose the cleanup plan.

"We are willing to leave as long as the mayoralty pays
compensation for the land," Edi said.

He said residents want the amount of the compensation to be
determined based on the land value set by the tax office.

During the hearing the deputy chairman of the commission,
Fattommy Ansaari, contacted the North Jakarta mayoralty.

"The mayoralty has not yet scheduled the demolition plan,"
Fattommy said after making the call.

The order was sent to notify the residents about the plan and
urge them to demolish their houses themselves, he said.

He added that the mayoralty has allocated funds to pay
compensation.

"It's better for you to go to the district head and tell him
the mayoralty office has not yet established a demolition date,"
he told the residents. (yns)