Veterans upset over land appropriation
Veterans upset over land appropriation
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Purna Siluman Merah war-veterans foundation staged a protest yesterday at the House of Representatives compound over the establishment of a golf course on their land.
Chairman of the foundation, Marcel Mohammad, told reporters that members of the foundation filed their objections to the development of the golf course, by PT Sarana Graha Sentosa, a developer owned by timber tycoon Bob Hasan, in a cooperation with the Air Force, on their land in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
"Out of the 60 hectares of land earmarked for the project, about 8.5 hectares are owned by the foundation. The developer has appropriated it without giving compensation to the foundation," Marcel said.
He claimed that city administration gave the land to war veterans for their participation in the independence struggle during the 1940s. "Because we are the first battalion who arrived in and defended Jakarta in 1949," he said.
He said the foundation received proper permits from city administration in 1991 and 1994 to use the land.
Marcel explained that the problem arose when the developer expressed its intention to build a golf course near the foundation's land. Since golf courses cover at least 60 hectares of land, and the developer only had 53 hectares at that time, the company decided to appropriated the foundation's land, without any consultation.
"The foundation had plans to sell the appropriated land and buy cheaper land outside the city for its 800 members," he said.
He demanded that the authorities help stop the development of the golf course and return the land to the veterans.
Dozen of foundation members were seen displaying posters in front of the House of Representatives building after they failed to meet with House members yesterday.
The posters demanded justice, especially for war veterans. "Where is the appreciation of veterans when their rights are violated?" one of the posters asked.
Marcel said that 100 foundation members tried to protest at the golf course project in Ciganjur on Monday but they were blocked by 30 military personnel from the Air Force.
"There was no incident because we decided to withdraw, but at night several members of the foundation who stayed at Ciganjur were ousted by the military," he said.
According to Kompas, spokesman of the Air Force J. Paryanto said the disputed land belongs to the Air Force, which currently holds the legitimate land certificate to prove it.
He said that the problem concerning the land was settled earlier and it is up to the foundation to pursue the matter if it still claims to be the owner of the land. (yns)