Kedoya residents seek help from House
Kedoya residents seek help from House
JAKARTA (JP): Kebon Jeruk riverbank squatters have met Golkar legislators in a desperate attempt to protect their homes from demolition.
"We plead to you to help us stall the eviction order until we gain some shelter," Marbun, the spokesman for 121 families of the Kedoya Selatan subdistrict, said to the representatives on Thursday.
Marbun said residents received the demolition order on Jan. 21. It gave the squatters until Feb. 1 to dismantle their houses and leave the area.
Marbun said the order from the West Jakarta mayor, Sudaryanto, was based on two regulations prohibiting living on riverbanks; a 1988 regional decree on public security and another 1988 rule on sanitation.
"We have never been aware of these rules, and we have never seen them posted on boards," said Marbun.
Along with around 20 other men and women who came to the House, he met with Golkar legislators Ali Mursalim and Kahil Sahab. Thirty others waited quietly outside.
Marbun added they had lived in the area since 1984, and all have identity cards.
"We have verbal permission to live in the area; and the local authorities know we conduct nightly security checks.
"We provide electric lighting to the area which used to be dangerous because of the frequent robberies," he added.
Reading from a statement, Marbun said earlier that the 121 families had been "loyal supporters of Golkar" in the last election.
The House members explained that it was likely they had violated the law without realizing it.
"It should have been the job of the local authorities to inform you," Kahil said.
"I can see from your faces how much it hurts to have to face up to the truth," he said.
But in a country governed by the rule of law, the laws are effective regardless of whether one knows the contents or not, Kahil said.
River banks must be free of inhabitants in case dikes or inspection lanes need to be built, he explained.
The legislators also asked the residents to complete their reports with written evidence.
"We need to get written notes saying you got permission to stay in the area," said Kahil. The legislators said they would do their best to discuss the matter with the mayor.
They also rebuked the residents for not approaching lower level Golkar officers at the subdistrict and district levels.
The residents admitted they had also not petitioned the City Council because they feared it would be unproductive considering the proximity of the deadline. (anr)