Koja residents disprove charges of destruction

Koja residents disprove charges of destruction

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Koja Utara have proved untrue
accusations that they had vandalized equipment belonging to a
company wanting to acquire their property for a multi million-
dollar port project.

The leader of a Koja delegation representing residents, Hasan
Saman, said Saturday they had invited representatives from the
mayoralty, the company, the military and the police to check out
the facts on site. However, only the local military commander,
Capt. Mohamad Nuh, complied.

When pressed for comment, on the latest development of the
prolonged conflict, Nuh refused to go into specifics. He only
said that all the parties involved should try to solve the
problem amicably.

Delegation leader Hasan Saman showed Capt. Nuh the places
where residents allegedly vandalized the company's property. The
accusation was brought in jointly by the company, PT Pelindo II,
and the North Jakarta mayoralty and involved property located on
Jl. Pantai Laut, Gudang Baru, the Jl. Dobo public cemetery and
Jl. Gang 64.

On Jl. Dobo, Hasan Saman showed the apparently undamaged sheds
which, according to the accusations, residents were said to have
demolished.

"They (the company and the mayoralty) were lying about the
demolition, all the barracks are still in good condition," Hasan
said.

The delegation also showed the military official the 50-meter-
long zinc fence on Jl. Gang 64, which had collapsed. According to
Hasan, the collapse was caused by a construction fault rather
than willful destruction by residents.

"How can they make the foundation a mere 15 centimeters deep
for a zinc fence in such water-drenched land," Hasan said,
showing the official the unearthed foundation of the still
undamaged zinc fence.

The dispute, over land compensation, arose after PT Pelindo II
announced last year it would appropriate 90 hectares of land,
which was initially inhabited by more than 9,000 families, of
which, at present, only fewer than 2,000 families remain. The
company plans to build a cargo terminal expansion, in a joint-
venture with PT Humpuss, the widely diversified business group
owned by President Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra.

After a number of negotiations failed to reach an agreement,
North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito decided to break the deadlock by
offering between Rp 100,000 to Rp 160,000 per square meter, or Rp
10,000 higher than the rate set by the PT Pelindo II.

The Koja residents, however, initially insisted that the
compensation be set at Rp 2,275 million per square meter.

So far, according to Hasan Saman, more than 1,500 families
have resolved to remain on the land until they are offered an
appropriate amount in compensation.

The Koja Utara subdistrict, which is located next to the
Tanjung Priok container terminal, has been earmarked for a new
cargo terminal site. The new terminal, which is being built at
the cost of US$498-million, is expected to start operation in
October 1998. (01)