Talks on Kebon Kacang land clearance to resume

JAKARTA (JP): Renewed negotiations in a land settlement between a private developer and residents of Kebon Kacang subdistrict, which has been dragging on since 1989, are expected to begin soon.

"When some city councilors visited us here on Friday, they promised to invite us for a meeting by today," Budi Santoso, head of the community neighborhood, told The Jakarta Post.

Salomo Pangaribuan, a resident, said that a private developer planned to build a star-rated hotel on the land.

The Central Jakarta mayor, Abdul Kahfi, issued a demolition order to residents on April 23 stating that they had to leave the site within a week.

Prior to the demolition order, meetings had been coordinated by the city administration, bringing together local residents and the developer, PT Asia Troika.

Legislators as well as residents consider the mayor to have violated a presidential decree which stipulates that the government will not interfere in land disputes for private parties. Abdul, however, denied the allegation by saying that his order was based on the consideration that the land would be used for public facilities.

"Why doesn't the mayor order only areas claimed for public facilities to be cleared?" Salomo Pangaribuan, a resident asked.

In 1989, some 300 houses were demolished after the owners agreed to accept the developer's compensation of Rp 350,000 per square meter, despite the area's prime location.

The remaining residents are now demanding Rp 5 million for every square meter of certified land and Rp 4 million per square meter for uncertified plots, while the developer is only willing to pay Rp 2.5 million and Rp 2.25 million respectively.

Soni Harsono, head of the Board of National Land Affairs has said the government does not provide extra protection for the private sector, especially business tycoons, and that the government will take firm disciplinary action against violators. (14)