Squatters problem keep KAI busy

Squatters problem keep KAI busy

JAKARTA (JP): The state railway company PT KAI continuously
faces the headache of dealing with squatters who illegally occupy
its land along the railway tracks and are reluctant to be
removed, an official said on Wednesday.

Speaking in a meeting with some of the squatters, city
officials and councillors, PT KAI head of land and property
section Kusnadi said about seven million square meters of its
land, or one-third of the company's 20 million square meters of
land in Greater Jakarta is currently "owned" by people, who build
their houses on KAI property without any legal documents or
permission.

The removal of the squatters at Karang Anyar subdistrict in
Sawah Besar district, Central Jakarta, which led to a protest by
the squatters at the City Council since Tuesday is just one
example out of many repeatedly faced by the company, he said.

Kusnadi said that KAI had no choice but to stand by its
decision to prohibit anyone from building houses on its land.

"These people keep returning to rebuild their homes," Kusnadi
said.

Wednesday was the third day of the protest by some 300
residents from Karang Anyar, who took turns staying the night in
the City Council's parking lot.

The residents said authorities acted on Monday without
adequate warning, violently removing their belongings and
clearing shacks located under the railway tracks from Mangga
Besar and Sawah Besar train stations in Central Jakarta.

A resident, Udin, said they admitted they were illegal
squatters, "but why are we the only ones to be evacuated when
there are so many others living along the train tracks?" He
wondered if other residents had bribed officials. (07)