Simpruk residents complain

Simpruk residents complain

JAKARTA (JP): Twenty residents of Simpruk in the Grogol
Selatan, South Jakarta, filed a complaint with the City Council
yesterday over the demolition of their houses.

The residents, who claimed to represent the 138 families whose
houses were torn down by officers from the South Jakarta Law and
Order Office on Monday, asked members of the City Council's
Commission A, which is in charge of government affairs, to help
settle the problem.

"Please help us because currently most of the residents are
homeless and living on sidewalks along Jl. Sinabung," said
Mariana Abdul Manap, one of the residents, with tears in her
eyes.

She said the residents feel cheated because last year they
were given a permit to build houses on the site. After spending
much money on building, the houses were demolished.

"Why were we permitted to build on the site when in the end
the officers demolished it?" Mariana asked.

In 1985, the residents were asked to leave the land because
its owner said they were squatters. Most people immediately left
the site peacefully. But last year, after getting permission,
they started to rebuild their houses.

The South Jakarta mayoralty demolished the 138 families' homes
on Monday to make way for an expansion of a luxury condominium
project.

Commission Chairman told residents that he will investigate
the matter and summon the parties involved, including those who
issued the permit to rebuild their houses. (yns)