Squatter families told to quit PT Telkom's land

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)