Kemayoran extends eviction deadline

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta

The Kemayoran Complex Development Board (DP3KK) has agreed to give two months to residents occupying part of the former airport in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, to move out of their homes. The board has also agreed to set up a coordinating team with the residents to negotiate compensation and relocation.

"The board agrees to suspend all legal action against the residents, and to give them a deadline of July 31 to leave the site," said the board head, Abdul Muis, on Thursday.

The board had twice issued eviction notices and given a grace period of seven days and three days respectively to the residents, in accordance with the city bylaw on eviction. It had initially planned to issue a third notice on Friday, allowing the residents one day to leave before reporting them to the police.

At least 900 people, mostly food-stall owners and boarders, live on the disputed site of Block B2 and Block B3.

Abdul said the board had no other option as it had signed an agreement with a developer last December to turn the site into a commercial center.

The city administration plans to develop Kemayoran into a business district, which will include the 558-meter Jakarta Tower, which will be the highest tower in the world.

Abdul expected the given time would be enough for the residents to find another location.

"We will provide compensation for the residents although it may not be in full," he said. "We will also consider relocating them within the complex but it will be under a legal, lease agreement."

Although somewhat disappointed, Ramdani, one of the representatives of the residents, said they could accept the board's offer.

"At least they have given us some time in which we could always request for further negotiations," he said.

The residents had earlier requested that they be given until October to move out of the site.

Abdul, however, requested that the residents immediately end any prostitution activities at the site immediately, as the board had been receiving complaints from the administration and locals.

Thukul, another representative, meanwhile, denied that residents were engaged in prostitution.

"Since I opened my business here four years ago I have never heard of any violent incidents taking place," he said. "This place is also prostitution-free and drug-free."