Residents complain to legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Former residents of the Kembangan Utara subdistrict in West Jakarta voiced their desperation yesterday at the House of Representatives for what they perceive to be an irresponsible act of demolition.

Their houses on the plot of land, which measures 4,000 square meters, were demolished on Nov. 4, 1995, by the West Jakarta mayoralty for no clear reason, a resident said.

"There were no warnings or warrants. The demolition squad just came on Saturday and leveled our neighborhood to the ground in two hours," he added.

If nothing else, the residents said, they want to know why the plot, which is located between the Green Garden and Taman Kota housing complexes, was cleared.

Tugimun, the residents' spokesman, told The Jakarta Post that residents were given rights to use the land. Many of them have lived there since 1971, though none have land certificates.

"We deserve to be treated like human beings, don't we?" Tugimuns said on behalf of 68 families.

The residents were received by House members of the ruling Golkar faction, who said they would look into the matter.

"We just hope that they are sincere. Nothing ever turns out from our visits to the City Council and the National Commission on Human Rights," another resident added. (14)