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)