Residents demand land compensation

JAKARTA: Residents living around Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta moved to obstruct the construction of corridor III of the busway project, claiming that they had not received compensation from the government for the expansion of the road in 1974.

KCM reported on Saturday that residents had put up a sign at kilometer 17 of Jl. Daan Mogot saying "pay first, then build", and "this land has not been paid for" at kilometer 15.

"I told busway project workers to clear out on Nov. 22, when we first put up the signs, and they haven't returned since," said resident Suherman.

He said that the government has yet to pay him compensation for the 880-square-meters of land that was used in the expansion of Jl. Daan Mogot in 1974.

At least 91 residents have not received compensation, another resident M. Sukri, who lost 460 square meters of land, said. He and five others have sent a protest letter to the governor, but have yet to receive a reply.

"Until we receive compensation, we don't want the busway project on our land to continue," Sukri said. --JP