No compensation money for Karet fire victims

JAKARTA (JP): Fire victims of the gutted Karet Tengsin slum area in Central Jakarta would get only land in a coming apartment project as compensation, an official said yesterday.

City housing agency head Ongky Sukasah said the city had no funds to compensate the Karet Tengsin residents for the loss of their buildings.

Ongky did not say the families did not have the right to compensation for their buildings.

"But I believe (Central Jakarta mayor) Pak Abdul Kahfi can convince residents," Ongky said.

Land compensation has been set at Rp 1,050,000 (US$443.20) per square meter for plots with ownership documents.

A Rp 12 billion four block, 320 apartment project would be built on the two-hectare site early next year, he said.

Ongky said the Karet Tengsin fire victims had priority in the apartment projects.

According to the mayoralty the fire in the Tanah Abang district on Wednesday destroyed 158 homes belonging to 247 families.

"A meeting on land appropriation is scheduled today," he said.

Residents are demanding compensation negotiations for their homes. They said nearby neighborhoods, which would be relocated for apartments, got compensation for their buildings.

Ongky said compensation for buildings after a fire was hard because the houses' values could not be determined because they were destroyed.

Residents are still taking refuge on the ground floor of a nearby new apartment block.

The funds for the Karet Tengsin apartments would be the money designated to finance apartments for fire victims in North Jakarta, Ongky said.

"I have discussed this with Pak Suprawito (North Jakarta mayor)," Ongky said.

Ongky denied an earlier statement by local authorities who said the site was the last area where apartments would be built.

"That is incorrect, the whole area is plotted for low cost apartments, but we don't have the money yet," Ongky said.

He denied arson caused the fire.

Meanwhile, Antara reported yesterday donations for the fire victims continued to flow in.

Several social organizations have sent donations. The latest donation was from Tangerang's Vihara Nimmala Foundation.

The donation, which was several tons of rice, instant noodles and clothing, was presented by the foundation's chairman Trisno Budhiyanto and Budhi Suardaya, to the local neighborhood association's chairman Abdul Rachaman.

Several fires have hit the city recently. The biggest gutted the Senen shopping complex two weeks ago. (anr)