Village objects to homeless camp

BOGOR (JP): Hundreds of homeless people have taken up residence in Kampung Tegal Lega in Ciheuleut Bawah village ahead of the festive season in December, prompting residents' complaints as some have allegedly committed criminal offenses in the area.

"People of Ciheuleut have complained that some of the indigents have stolen laundry, cook stoves, even electronic stuff," Opik Hidayat, 26, chief of the community, said.

Most of the homeless people have come from towns in Java such as Sukabumi and Cianjur in West Java, Cirebon and Surakarta in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java.

"Their presence is disturbing because they have no sanitary facilities, disrupt public order and litter the environment," he said, adding that the group used Cialuk river as toilet.

Local social agency chief Achmad Adjiji said the homeless people have been living in an empty plot in the village since 1985, and their numbers have been growing ever since.

"We have tried to stop them from being beggars but their numbers are large," he said, adding that the agency in cooperation with local Gessang Ghosyiaary Foundation have assisted the homeless to quit their activities and to find jobs or go back to their hometowns. (21/edt)