Land dispute in Koja remains unsettled
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)