Mayor sticks to demolition plan in Kebon Kacang
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)