Komnas HAM to probe evictions

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