PDI House members visit Koja
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives said yesterday that they would help Koja Utara residents get appropriate compensation.
The four PDI faction members, Sabam Sirait, BN Marbun, Marwan Adam and Sunaryo visited Koja Utara, where they asked the residents to be calm.
"Our visit is to check the truth of the reports we received from various institutions handling the Koja Utara case. The reports said that the dispute over the land, particularly with regard to compensation, has been settled," Sunaryo said.
After looking around the location and talking to residents the House members agreed to help occupants get a "more humane" rate.
"Regarding the residents' houses, most of which are small, the compensation set by the North Jakarta mayor would not even be enough to transport them to their respective hometowns," Sunaryo said.
BN Marbun, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said the huge cargo terminal project should not inflict a loss upon the residents.
Marbun suggested the residents send complete data regarding the land dispute to the Commission.
Regarding their compensation demands, Marbun said he would try to talk the matter over with the North Jakarta mayor and PT Pelindo II.
"We called on the residents not to do things which could cause them to face accusations of disturbing national stability," Marbun said.
Sabam Sirait, meanwhile said that according to the law those who have been living for 25 years in a location should have their rights respected even if construction of the container terminal is in the public's interest.
"President Soeharto has said that in the compensation process the people should not be victimized," Sabam said.
He questioned why the residents had to move while most of them worked for the port.
"The company should provide a place for them to live nearby to where they work," Sabam said.
Commenting on the statement of the Jakarta Military Commander, Gen. Wiranto Marwan, he said the statement was unnecessary because the Koja residents are also Indonesian citizens.
"I do not think the Koja residents intend to disturb development programs or national stability. In fact, they agree with the port development project. It's better if the development also covers the advancement of the residents living on the site," he said.
The House members promised to help the residents and said they planned to write to the North Jakarta mayor and PT Pelindo II.
During the hour-long visit the House members were welcomed by the residents.
"At least there are still persons who care and listen to our concerns," a resident said.
The dispute began when PT Pelindo II and PT Humpuss announced last year that they would appropriate 90 hectares of land for a new cargo terminal.
The company set the compensation rate at between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000 per square meter while the residents asked for Rp 2.275 million per square meter, which they said was negotiable. (01)