No compensation money for Karet fire victims

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)