Koja residents challenge remarks by Gen. Wiranto

Koja residents challenge remarks by Gen. Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): Koja Utara residents challenged a statement made
by Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto yesterday over an
ongoing land dispute.

Wiranto on Thursday urged about 1,500 families still in the
area to move from their 90-hectare plot of land, which belongs to
the government and is scheduled to be used for a container
terminal.

"We will meet with the residents soon to explain once again
that they have no right to the land. What they have done so far
is disrupting the government's development program," Wiranto
said.

A Koja resident, Martin Mohamad, told The Jakarta Post that
the residents are waiting for the legal outcome of the case.

"The legal process is not yet final. He (Wiranto) should not
say things like that. This is a country based on law," Martin
said.

With the assistance of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), two Koja
Utara residents, Noor Alam Baso and Yansen Ismail, last month
planned to file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court after being
turned away by the North Jakarta District Court and the Jakarta
Administrative Court.

The residents are demanding that the North Jakarta mayor
revoke his decree on the amount of compensation to be paid to
residents.

The North Jakarta mayor's decree sets the amount of
compensation at no more than Rp 165,000 (US$72.72) a square
meter.

The residents rejected the amount, saying the amount is too
low. They are demanding Rp 2.275 million per square meter, but
said the amount was negotiable.

Meanwhile, LBH division chief of land affairs Waskito
Adiribowo told the Post that the case would be taken to the
Supreme Court since both the North Jakarta District Court and the
Jakarta Administration have rejected the case.

According to him, after being turned down by the North Jakarta
District Court the case should be taken to the Jakarta Administrative Court
since it involves a state-owned company. The Jakarta Administrative Court,
however, also declined to try the case because it had to do with
compensation, which is beyond its jurisdiction.

"We will take the case to the Supreme Court to determine which
court is entitled to try it," Waskito said.

Documents show that the land occupied by the residents belongs
to the state-owned company PT Pelindo II, and not to the
government, Waskito said.

"There is a difference between a government and a state-owned
company," he said.

"The residents are holding documents stating that they are
users of the land. That is why they pay taxes on the land and
buildings," Waskito said.

"But the point is that the residents deserve fair compensation
and they want the court to decide," Waskito said.

In a related development, members of the City Council urged all officers
to execute the relocation plan, to negotiate with the local
residents and to avoid any physical clashes.

Saud Rahman, the deputy chairman of the United Development
Party faction of the council, said yesterday there is still one
week to negotiate.

Saud has no objection to the ultimatum given by the city military
commander. "It is better for the residents to heed Wiranto's call and accept
the compensation set by the City Administration," he said.

Djenny Suharso, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian
Democratic Party faction, agreed that there should be no physical
violence.

"I think the persuasive approach made by the city military
chief is good." he said. (01/32)