Komnas won't force people to leave

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights denied yesterday that it would use force in dealing with 250 people who have been squatting at its office since April 24, a commission member said.

Muhammad Salim said the commission wanted the Depok families to leave the office on Jl. Latuharhari, Central Jakarta. "But we don't want to use force," he added.

The Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim visited the commission office and talked with commission members and the squatters.

"We did not ask the police to come here. The officer wanted to meet the people and ask them what their problems are," Salim said.

The squatters, including children and babies, were evicted from their residences in Pancoran Mas on April 17 as the 1.9 hectares they were living on belonged to the Ministry of Health.

A week after their 700 shanties were demolished, they sought help from the rights commission and refused to leave until their demands were met.

The rights commission has been providing meals for the families.

Salim said the commission would not be tough on the "refugees" as it believed that someday they would leave the office voluntarily.

The rights commission secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, had earlier asked the people to leave the office, suggesting they rent small houses.

"They are not poor families. The fathers are mostly drivers," Lopa said last week.

The commission has written to the mayoralty and the Ministry of Social Services, asking them to arrange temporary shelter for the evicted people.

The squatters said they would refuse to be moved to the Ministry of Social Services' house for the homeless in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta.

"We want to be allowed to return to Pancoran Mas," a squatter said. (jun)