Residents unaware of museum's appropriation plan

JAKARTA (JP): The National Museum is planning to go ahead with its expansion despite the fact some residents of the affected area claim they have not been informed of the plan.

The plan calls for the construction of a 10-story annex behind the existing building which is more than one century old. The annex will require an additional 10,000 square meters of land, part of which has already been acquired. The existing 6,494- square-meter building is located on 10,777 square meters of land.

The master plan for the project stipulates that the expanded facilities will occupy 5,000 square meters to the south and another 5,000 square meters on the north along the Jl. Musium. The land is at present occupied by 20 buildings, houses, offices and restaurants.

Museum sources said yesterday that decisions on some of the major issues, including the appropriation of the land, had been made during a meeting of officials on Friday.

Some area residents insist they have not been told about the plans, especially regarding compensation for their land. Others were reported to have already received Rp 2 million per square meter in compensation.

"I have known about the issue of an expansion for years, but I have no idea of when the compensation is to be paid or how high it will be," a resident living next door to the museum said. He added that the museum itself had yet to make an announcement concerning the matter.

An area resident, who uses his house as a store, said he knew that they would have to move, but had no idea when. "We do not even know how much money we will get," he said.

The operator of a restaurant located on Jl. Museum said that the owner of the house where he runs his business had received appropriation money amounting to approximately Rp 2 million per square meter. He said the restaurant would be moved to Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Uncertain

Another resident, who is using his house as a restaurant, said he remained uncertain about where he would be able to move because he did not know how much compensation he would receive.

"Yes, we heard about the Rp 2 million, but we are not sure yet," he said.

Sources at the museum, however, said that appropriation have been effected, although not all of the occupants of the land in question had been paid as yet. They declined to give specifics about the amount of compensation paid.

"Perhaps it is about Rp 2 million per square meter, but I think that does not go for all residents," a source said, explaining that the land around the museum belonged to the government.

Suwati Kartiwa, who chairs the National Museum, refused to comment on the expansion plan.

"It is still in process," she said, adding that the minister of education and culture will give a more detailed explanation on the subject next month. (01)