Report on SMP 56 clarified

With reference to The Jakarta Post's Speaker's Corner column on April 26, titled "SMP 56 dispute politicized", we believe that this item may lead to a misunderstanding of the facts, especially regarding the indication of Abdul Latief's intervention in the matter. Therefore, we are making the following clarification. 1. The property transfer involving this SMP 56 building was conducted by the national education ministry, (not the DKI Jakarta administration) and PT Tata Disantara. The building has been designated a Business Development Institute, not for other purposes -- this is the principle the government holds onto in the property transfer process. 2. In fact, the property transfer process has been completed and normal teaching and learning activities are now going on in SLTPN 56 Jeruk Purut. 3. Any learning activities in the building formerly housing SLTPN (SMP) 56 Melawai are illegal. Children and teachers occupying the building are not the registered pupils of SLTPN 56 but are children exploited by a particular group of people. 4. In this matter, the governor of the DKI Jakarta administration strictly abides by the law and the court ruling and his stance has nothing to do with the intervention of other parties, including Abdul Latief. The governor, also, has never prohibited any party from seeking justice in the property transfer process as far as this attempt is made in conformity with the prevailing law. 5. In seeking a solution to this problem, the DKI Jakarta administration has taken a rational decision, namely moving pupils now studying at the building formerly housing SLTPN 56 Melawai free of charge to SLTPN 56 Jeruk Purut and also to the nearest school, SLTPN 12 (one of the area's best schools) or to other government junior high schools the parents of these pupils choose because of proximity to their respective houses. 6. We also deem it necessary to inform the public the South Jakarta District Court has ruled the class action filed by several people regarding the property transfer involving SLTPN 56 cannot be accepted because these people, who are not directly related to SLTPN 56, do not represent anyone.

MUHAYAT Chief of Public Relations and Protocol Bureau Province of DKI Jakarta