Nineteen families face eviction

Nineteen families face eviction

JAKARTA (JP): Nineteen families facing eviction from their land in the Tugu Selatan subdistrict of North Jakarta have asked the City Council to press the developer concerned to pay them greater compensation for the loss of their homes.

H.D. Sembiring, spokesman for the families, told the City Council's commission for administration, security and public order that PT Multi Duta Parma Centra has intimidated the residents to accept Rp 300,000 (US$131) for each square meter of land. He said the real price of the land is Rp 500,000 per square meter.

Sembiring said the developer had earlier said that the residents must either accept the offer or quit the area without being paid anything.

The residents believe the developer has received support from military personnel and subdistrict officials in appropriating the land, Sembiring said.

Sembiring said that, rather than helping them to gain a higher rate of compensation, the subdistrict head had urged the residents to give up their land to the developer.

Letters of complaint have been sent to the North Jakarta mayor and Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, but the residents have received no response.

"Therefore, the residents are looking to the City Council," Sembiring said.

PT Multi Duta Parma Centra plans to build a residential complex in the area, an employee of the company told The Jakarta Post yesterday. However the source declined to reveal details of the development plan.

Fatommy Asaari, the vice chairman of the Council commission, promised to invite the developer to discuss the matter.

He said that the developer should have consulted with the residents before setting the rate of compensation.(32)