Komnas HAM to probe evictions

JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has set up a team to investigate a string of evictions in the city, which many claim have violated people's basic rights, a commission member said on Friday.

Taheri Noor said the team, of which he is a member, would be led by the commission's deputy chairman, Solahuddin Wahid, and would conduct direct investigations in the field.

"We consider these evictions in Jakarta to be a serious matter," Taheri said.

He added that the commission, along with the National Commission on Child Protection and the National Commission on Violence Against Women, would hold a meeting with the West Jakarta mayor and his officials, the local police chief, as well as officials from the state housing company, Perum Perumnas, on Monday.

In the last two weeks, municipality and security officers have evicted hundreds of residents occupying Perum Perumnas' 55- hectare site in East Cengkareng and Kamal subdistricts, West Jakarta, despite the residents' pleas for a delay as they had yet to find new places to live.

Dozens of the evicted residents are now sheltering in the parking lot of the Komnas HAM offices on Jl. Latuharhary, Central Jakarta. -- JP