Scavenger homes demolished for dam project

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of North Jakarta scavengers homes were demolished yesterday and Tuesday leaving scores of people homeless.

Penjaringan district public works office supervisor Henri said 320 illegal shacks were torn down Tuesday and yesterday to widen the Pluit dam.

"The shacks were built on land that used to be part of a dam which was part of the flood control system," he said.

The land, near the Pluit Mega Mall, would be cleared and used as a dam again, he said.

Scavengers, vendors, factory workers and fishermen lived in the shacks. Many said they were confused because temporary shelters were also torn down.

"We were told we could build tents while we looked for a place to stay but they tore the tents down, too," a noodle seller said.

Residents said officials did not give them standard demolition orders which say residents must tear down their homes by a certain date.

"The last letter was on Nov. 25," said boat owner Amir. "It did not mention a specific period."

Residents said they would have torn down their homes if they had been properly warned.

"Usually a written notice is circulated," said fisherman Abas, who moved from Muara Angke when buildings there were no longer allowed. "Then we tore down our homes and could collect our building materials, but now I don't have anything."

Public order officials burnt the remains after the demolition.

Henri said residents were warned.

Some of the residents said they were waiting for chartered buses to take them to their hometowns in West and Central Java.

Others were moving household goods to nearby neighborhoods but many said they would spend the night without shelter.

"I still have some valuable planks lying around, they might be stolen," Amir said.

A few babies and their mothers were moved to nearby hospitals, residents said.

Residents alleged the demolition was in an individual's interest.

One resident said after the demolition he saw a man slipping large bundles of money to another man in a municipality uniform.

"I shouted after them saying, 'So is this the way you do things?' but the man scampered away. The official didn't have his name on his uniform," the resident said.

The Ministry of Public Works has undertaken several measures to cope with this year's floods including repairing dams. (anr)