'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