Land dispute in Koja remains unsettled
JAKARTA (JP): About one hundred Koja Utara residents visited the House of Representatives yesterday to complain that the ongoing dispute over the 90-hectare plot of land they occupy has not been settled.
Wearing white T-shirts and black hats bearing the words Delegasi Warga Koja Utara (Koja Utara Residents Delegation) the people staged a peaceful demonstration inside the building.
The delegates told the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) members who received them that they wanted to clarify earlier reports regarding the meeting on Wednesday between the Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto and Koja Utara residents.
Speaking to 50 Koja residents at the city military headquarters on Wednesday, Wiranto defended the administration's policy regarding the amount of compensation set for Koja residents. He urged the residents to accept the money and move out of the area, which belonged to the state-owned PT Pelindo II.
Wiranto asked the residents to demolish the makeshift guard posts they use to check people and vehicles entering the area. "What you have done is in violation of the law," Wiranto insisted.
The North Jakarta mayoralty has set the compensation rate at between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000 per square meter.
"They were not representing us. Some of them even received the compensation months ago," Welly Yakob, the spokesman of the delegation, told the House members.
Welly said that at least 1,400 families still occupied the land and demand Rp 2,275,000 a square meter in compensation.
PDI members Sabam Sirait, Suko Walujo, Sunaryo, Wiyanjono, Popo Hasan and Nana Mulyana received the residents.
Sunaryo asked the delegates if it was true that Wiranto had promised additional money to transport their belongings to their new homes. The residents, who must rent new houses, will be given one year's rent, nearly Rp 1,000,000. Those who apply for low- cost apartments will not need a down payment.
"Yes we heard about such offers but the problem is there has been no agreement so far between the residents and the government, particularly on the compensation rate," Suharja, a resident, said.
Misunderstanding
Meanwhile, Sabam Sirait said he was surprised by the delegation's arrival because he thought the dispute had been settled.
"There must be misinformation or a misunderstanding. The government may have received the information from only one side," he said.
He thought from what he had read in media that the dispute was settled.
Sabam said after a visit by PDI House members to Koja Utara last month that they had written several institutions, including the Jakarta Military Command, the Jakarta governor's office, the National Land Agency and the Ministry of Home Affairs, about the dispute .
"But our letters have not been answered," Sabam said, adding that his political faction would follow up its efforts to assist the residents.
The dispute in Koja Utara began when state-owned company PT Pelindo II and PT Humpuss announced last year they were appropriating the 90 hectares of land to build a new cargo terminal. Of the more than 9,000 original families, only 1,400 remain.
The company, which was supported by the North Jakarta mayoralty, set the compensation which was then rejected by the residents. (01)