N. Jakarta mayoralty defies demolition rules

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the City Council said yesterday that the North Jakarta Mayoralty's demolition of a number of houses in Pademangan Barat, North Jakarta, violated standard procedure.

They made the remark after hearing complaints filed by several of the 11 Pademangan Barat residents whose houses were pulled down on Saturday to make way for the construction of public facilities.

A spokesman for the residents, Herman Prasetyo, told the Council's Commission A that the mayoralty demolished their houses on the 250-square-meter plot of land seven days after sending the first warning letter.

"The warning was issued after we rejected a verbal order to demolish our houses," Herman said, adding that 60 people have been living in the area since 1966.

"Now we are homeless and have to live with our relatives," he said. The demolition went through because the land is reportedly state property.

"It seems that the mayoralty itself is not implementing the demolition order in line with the procedure," said M. Fatommy Asaari of the council's Commission A, which is in charge of administration affairs.

Fatommy said that, according to the standard procedure, the mayoralty should hold a public presentation about the demolition plan and explain the reasons behind the demolition order on the site to be cleared.

He said that the mayoralty is supposed to issue three written warnings: the first requiring residents to demolish their houses within three days. If they do not, the second warning would give them seven more days. And if they remain stubborn, the last warning would give them seven final days.

"Since the mayoralty never explained the reasons behind the demolition and only gave the residents a single warning, it violated the standard procedure," Fatommy said.

M. Amman, chairman of the commission, said that he will invite the mayor and representatives of related offices to explain the problem. (yns)