Protest over utilities

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): More than 50 house owners at the Taman Balaraja complex staged a protest yesterday, urging the developer to keep its promises to provide electricity and a clean water supply.

The protest erupted after the state-owned electricity company cut illegal installations at 53 houses in the complex.

One of the protesters, Sunarto said "we have had to install electricity illegally as we have lived here for almost one year without electricity. The developer, PT Duta Cipta Graha, failed to keep its promise."

He said only one house had a electricity legally although the developer said all houses would have electricity soon after being bought.

The residents protested in April June this year. "The developer has not responded at all," one resident said.

The electricity company's director, Herman Kurnia took the complainants to the electricity company head office in Central Jakarta. Herman refused to comment on the protests.

The residents are now being sued by the electricity company for stealing electricity. (27/sur)