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)