Talks on Kebon Kacang land clearance to resume

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.
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