'Rule on land acquisition open to abuse'

'Rule on land acquisition open to abuse'

Newly issued Presidential Regulation No. 36/2005 on land
acquisition for the development of public projects has many
property owners worried that they could be stripped of their
rights. The government says the regulation is necessary to speed
up the completion of large infrastructure projects, which often
are held up by disputes over land acquisition. The Jakarta Post
asked residents for their thoughts on the issue.

Yayan, 36, sells clothes and handbags. She lives with her
husband and four children in Jatibening, Bekasi:

I have no problem with the regulation as long as the
government really monitors its enforcement to avoid any abuses of
power. I think we need such a regulation to support vital public
projects such as the construction of badly needed roads, canals
and bridges.

I have had friends who refused to sell their land unless they
got more money, even though the government was already offering
them a fair price. By doing so, they obstructed the construction
of important projects.

However, I would oppose the regulation if there were no
controls put in place. An absence of controls would allow
officials to make a profit from landowners by marking up the real
price of land.

Hartono, 60, is a retired Army soldier. He lives with his
daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Cempaka Putih,
West Jakarta:

I do not think the regulation is fair to private landowners.
Although as a military man I believe that we have to sacrifice
for our country, I am afraid we will end up sacrificing our land
for corrupt officials.

I think it is pretty well known that most governmental
officials are corrupt. How could they drive such luxurious cars
and live in such big houses if they did not embezzle money from
the state?

I think this regulation will just give these officials another
opportunity to embezzle money from the public. They were already
making money from landowners before the regulation, so I cannot
imagine what will happen now that they are armed with such an
unfair regulation.

--The Jakarta Post