Residents protest over river project

Residents protest over river project

JAKARTA (JP): Two hundred residents protested outside the
Mangga Dua Selatan subdistrict office in Central Jakarta on
Wednesday, demanding a postponement of compensation payments for
the Ciliwung River normalization project.

The residents came from four neighborhoods to be affected by
the project, which aims to clean up the longest river in Jakarta.
The project officially started in 1994.

At risk are 109 houses and plots of land, according to the
residents.

They complained that the project and plans for compensation
were not conducted transparently.

A spokesman for the residents, Sukarman, said the municipality
announced two years ago that their area would be included in the
project but there had never been a clear explanation about how
the project would affect their lives.

"All we've heard are rumors. Some officials come and go and
explain to us a bit about the program but that's it."

Sukarman said the residents need a comprehensive explanation
about the project as construction along the riverbanks started
three months ago.

"Some workers have been dredging the river and repairing the
riverbanks. If the municipality intends to continue this project,
we want details about compensation for our land and houses."

Reports said the land compensation rate ranges between Rp
50,000 (US$4.5) and Rp 200,000 per square meter.

"This is confusing. We've never been asked to properly discuss
the compensation rate," Sukarman said.

The residents demanded that any payment of compensation for
their properties be postponed until after the Idul Fitri holiday.
(edt)