Residents set conditions for talks on land

Residents set conditions for talks on land

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the Kebon Kosong and Gunung Sahari sub-districts in Central Jakarta say they are willing to talk with the Kemayoran Area Development Board in the ongoing land compensation dispute but have laid down several conditions.

The spokesman for the residents, Rahardjo Darsoprayitno, expressed satisfaction yesterday with efforts made to date by members of the City Council's Commission A, which is responsible for government affairs, to settle the dispute with the board. But he sought the commission's assistance once again, asking it to convey the residents' proposal to the board.

He said the residents were willing to hold talks with the board on several conditions. One of the conditions was that the board provide a written statement to the effect that it was willing to enter into negotiations, Rahardjo said. The residents also asked that the board invite independent mediators to take part in the negotiations.

"We set the conditions because the residents do not want to be disappointed again by the board, as has happened before," Rahardjo said.

He said there was always a possibility that the board would not honor its promise to enter into discussions. "That would merely indicate that the board has no power to make any decision without the approval of its superiors."

Rahardjo cited a hearing with the House of Representatives in December, 1991, in which Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said that the board should hold negotiations with the residents. But the negotiation ended in a deadlock simply because the board had no power to make a decision, Rahardjo said.

"We don't want something like that to happen again," he said.

Last week, the Kemayoran Area Development Board told the commission that it would hold discussions with residents of the Kebon Kosong and Gunung Sahari sub-districts to settle the dispute.

Hindro T. Soemardjan, one of the board's executives, said that the talks would be held in order to set the rate of compensation.

The decision to a hold a meeting with the residents was made in response to requests from councilors, who cited the fact that, to date, the board has only held negotiations with chiefs of the local districts and sub-districts.

Recently, about seven residents, who claimed to represent about 5,000 others, filed a complaint with the City Council over the compensation offered to them for their land. They demanded that the board consult with the residents in setting the rate.

Rahardjo said that the residents' demand was not only that the rate of compensation be increased, but also that their welfare be improved.

"So, let's say our demand to get Rp 2.5 million per square- meter is fulfilled, but the residents do not use the money properly and they become poor again. That would indicate that the current development process has yet to bring any benefits to the people," he said.(yns)