Traders demand damages

Traders demand damages

JAKARTA (JP): A group of traders from Rawasari Timur, Central
Jakarta, went to the City Council yesterday to demand
compensation for their houses which are to be demolished to make
way for public facilities.

"We do not oppose the city administration's programs but
please don't forget to give us compensation because we don't have
money to rent houses," Mrs. Syaifulman, spokesperson of the
delegation, told members of the City Council.

She explained that 30 traders have lived near the market for
over 30 years. Recently they received an order to demolish their
homes from the Cempaka Putih district because the site will be
converted to a "green belt," including sidewalks, gutters and
roads.

The order mentioned that the land on which the traders built
their houses and shops belongs to the city administration and is
earmarked for public purposes.

Mrs. Syaifulman said that the first order was given by the
district head verbally, demanding that the traders demolish their
houses within 10 days. The second warning dated Oct. 10 requested
them to dismantle their houses in seven days, she said.

"We are just poor traders and we do not know where to go if
our houses are demolished," Syaifulman said.

Mrs. Sitorus, another trader, said that they initially lived
in the area as ordinary settlers before converting their houses
in stages into shops in line with the increasing number of
neighbors.

Both Mrs. Syaifulman and Mrs. Sitorus admitted that they lack
building permits and never pay any land and building taxes.

"We did not know about the city's plan to use the site as a
green belt until 1990 when the Rawa Kerbau market, adjacent to
their residence, was built," Syaifulman said.

She explained that the authorities have actually provided them
with kiosks on upper floors of the marketplace which are rarely
visited by customers.

When confronted by members of the commission about the amount
of compensation, the traders simply said that the government
should pay a reasonable sum.

For comparison, they said seven of their neighbors whose
houses were demolished last year received compensation ranging
from Rp 1.5 million (US$688) to Rp 7 million depending on the
width of their houses.

The members of City Council's Commission B which is in charge
of government, security and order affairs promised to contact the
authorities to delay the demolition order. (yns)