Squatters face eviction

BATAM, Riau: The Batam industrial authority plan to demolish some 1,200 houses erected on a plot belonging to the government and evict their inhabitants saying that the community will create social problems.

A chief of the authority's task force Soeryohadi Djatmiko said the military have started to approach the squatters, most of whom are workers from outside the island.

Soeryohadi said the authority will move to tear down the houses if the residents decline to do it themselves.

Illegal houses are scattered in areas such as Kabil, Muka Kuning, Sekupang and Batu Ampar. (rmn/par)