Trial on eviction case continues

JAKARTA: About 200 people representing a group of squatters evicted from a plot of land near Taman Anggrek shopping mall in West Jakarta attended the civil suit trial they filed against the authority on Wednesday.

After weeks of postponements, the trial at the West Jakarta District Court continued on Wednesday with the accused presenting land ownership documents.

The accused parties include Agustina Munawar, who received title to the land from the original land owner, former West Jakarta mayor Sarimun Hadisumitra, the land developer PT Sinar Slipi Sejahtera and the City Public Order Agency.

The eviction in 2003 caused at least 825 families to lose their homes without any compensation.

"The inhuman measure has forced us to sleep under bridges now," one of the residents, Ali, complained.

The trial was adjourned until next week. --JP