Squatter families told to quit PT Telkom's land

JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta authorities have asked 16 families to move from a 2,740-square-meter plot of land in Slipi, West Jakarta, because the owner, the state telecommunications company PT Telkom, wants to use the land for offices and an employee housing complex.

A.W. Limbong, head of the West Jakarta office of Agrarian Affairs, said PT Telkom will provide compensation for their houses in accordance with city regulations.

PT Telkom has 43,300 square meters of land in Slipi, 2,740 square meters of which have been occupied by the 16 families since 1971.

The other 3,625 square meters are occupied by PT Yunawati, a mining company owned by Sutopo Yuwono, a former high-ranking government official.

In 1970 PT Telkom complained to the city administration about the occupancy.

Responding to the complaints, the governor issued a decree in 1971 asking the people not to build on the land. The municipality permitted PT Telkom to use the land for an employee housing complex.

As a follow-up measure, in 1975 the West Jakarta Mayor prohibited construction in the area and asked people occupying the land to move away from the area.

At the time 11 of the families accepted the compensation, while five others rejected it. However, those who accepted the compensation still have not moved from the area.

The West Jakarta authorities yesterday again asked the occupants to move and warned that if they don't, the mayoralty will demolish their houses by force.

The Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications has demanded that the Attorney General ask PT Yunawati to give the land it occupies to PT Telkom through legal procedures.(29)