N. Jakarta mayoralty defies demolition rules

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)