Mayor sticks to demolition plan in Kebon Kacang

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul Kahfi seems determined to brush aside pleas to stop his plan to demolish 18 buildings in Kebon Kacang subdistrict.

In a letter issued May 30, postponing the demolition, the mayor demanded that the residents vacate their homes by June 13. The two-week interim was granted to allow residents time to pack and move.

The mayor said the land was appraised, with uncertified land valued at Rp 2,350,000 per square meter and certified land valued at Rp 2,6 million per square meter. Residents claim that the current value of land in the area is at least Rp 4 million per square meter.

Only three of 19 families hold land certificates despite the fact that they have been living there for more than 30 years.

The residents' land is part of a disputed area totaling 14,184 square meters on which a hotel and an apartment complex will be built. Some 350 families have been evicted since 1989.

Legislators and residents said the mayor has violated a presidential decree which stipulates that the government will not interfere in land disputes involving private parties.

The mayor said earlier that part of the land would be used for public facilities, the widening of the Cideng river and the road along the river, as well as the establishment of a park.

"The public facilities they meant will be on the building's second floor, something that people will likely have to pay for," a resident said, while displaying a blueprint of the planned structure.

On May 29, two buildings were demolished despite a noisy protest and a clash between security officers and residents. A university student, who reportedly stood in defense of the residents, was injured.

A second effort to demolish the remaining buildings the next day was halted when legislators demanded that the amount of compensation be agreed upon first. The mayor promised to quote a new compensation rate.

Residents went to meet Djitu Sianandar, director of PT Asia Troika, the private contractor which wants to develop the area, in the middle of last week out of frustration over the mayoralty's interference.

Residents remain dissatisfied with the proposed compensation, Bambang Julianto, a long time resident, told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

According to Bambang, Djitu said that he would try to propose the higher price requested to the company's management. He refused to sign a document, explaining that the residents would have to try to negotiate a price agreement. (14)