Sutiyoso orders buildings demolished

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso has ordered the demolition of several buildings in the Pondok Indah Square (Poins Square) shopping center in Cilandak, South Jakarta, because of land use violations.

In an instruction to the South Jakarta mayor on Nov. 24, Sutiyoso ordered developer PT Menara Prambanan to demolish the buildings within a week.

"The decision is final. If they do not do it, we will do it for them," said Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo on Friday.

The order has the full support of the City Council's committee for urban development. Committee chairman Sayogo Hendrosubroto said the developer had turned 7,531 square meters of land designated as a public park and street into a parking lot.

"The misuse of this land caused the government Rp 29 billion in losses .... If the developer fights the order, the council will establish a special team to handle the case," Sayogo said. -- JP