NGOs strive to defend scavengers

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of 18 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) merged in the Alliance for Land Disputes in Greater Jakarta have strived to defend the rights of evicted scavengers and farmers in Rorotan, North Jakarta.

A number of the NGO's representatives pledged on Wednesday to support the rights of the 60 families of scavengers and farmers who were forcefully evicted by developer PT Green Garden, on June 28, from the four hectares of land which they had occupied since the early 1980s.

"We want to show them that we stand on their side," said Azas Tigor from NGO Jakarta Social Institute.

"For now we are giving the families our moral support. But if necessary we will help them take the case to court," said Erizal, director of Nusantara Legal Aid Institute.

The NGOs donated nylon tents to the families still remaining on the site and urged the developer to stop the evictions which were reportedly still going on.

The NGOs in their statement also urged the developer to compensate the families for the demolished properties.

In the statement, the NGOs urged that an investigation be held and that action be taken against the persons responsible for the eviction of the families.

"The developer forcefully evicted and demolished all the families' belongings which they bought with their own money bit by bit," Erizal said.

According to Paskah Irianto from the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), since the families occupied the land for more than 10 years they have in fact some rights over the it.

The families still remaining in the area, meanwhile, insist on staying until they received proper compensation.

Bapuk, 45, a mother of two children, said she suffered material losses of about Rp 2 million when her house was demolished by what she called "hoodlums" hired by the developer.

"They took my Rp 200,000 in cash and destroyed all my furniture," Bapuk said. Bapuk, who has lived on the site since 1980, demanded compensation of at least Rp 2 million.

Bapuk and her family now live in a nylon tent.

Meanwhile, Sujai, 44, who hails from Indramayu in West Java, had occupied the land since 1982 and said he was demanding compensation of Rp 10 million.

"My four houses, including the furniture, were all demolished," said the father of five children and grandfather of two.

Sujai said his four shacks, which occupied about 200 square meters of land, were ruined by the developer. Sujai, Bapuk and other families now live in makeshift shelters made from paper and plastic.

The dispute between the developer and the families began when the farmers vowed to remain on the four hectares of land which the developer insisted belonged to it.

The families took their case to the House of Representatives early last month to protest against their forceful eviction. (01)