UPC says no to land decree

JAKARTA: The Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) staged a protest on Monday to demand that the city council cease its deliberation of a bylaw draft on land procurement for public projects, saying that it violates the people's land ownership rights.

They also urged Governor Sutiyoso to withdraw gubernatorial decrees on land procurement for public projects issued early last month.

The UPC argued that neither Gubernatorial Decree No.1222/2005 on the committee of land procurement for the public nor Gubernatorial Regulation No. 83/2005 on the acquisition of land for public projects showed the government's sensitivity toward the people's aspirations.

UPC coordinator Gamulya said that the city council had already lost its credibility because it had been involved in private discussions with the government.

When no members of the city council had addressed the protesters after an hour, however, the UPC ended the protest. --Antara