Wiranto urges residents of Koja to relocate
Wiranto urges residents of Koja to relocate
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Chief Maj. Gen. Wiranto yesterday asked about 1,500 families in Koja Utara, North Jakarta, to relocate because the 90-hectare plot of land they are occupying will be used as a cargo terminal.
The land, to be developed by the state-owned port company PT Pelindo II, was, previously inhabited by over 9,000 families, most of whom moved after receiving compensation from the firm.
The remaining families insist on staying, unless the company gives higher compensation.
They demanded that compensation be raised to Rp 2.27 million (US$1,031) per square meter of land as compared to only Rp 160,000 per square meter of land offered by the North Jakarta Mayoralty.
Wiranto said that officials of the mayoralty, and officers of the military command, have approached the families several times, but their offers were turned down.
"We will meet with the local residents soon to explain once again that the residents have no right to the land because it belongs to the government. What they have done so far disturbs the development program," he said during an inspection of a 4,800-meter road connecting Marunda in North Jakarta and Pusaka Rakyat in Bekasi. Construction of the road was done by local people in cooperation with military officers and non-governmental organizations.
The road projects was built at a cost of Rp 616.8 million, of which Rp 554 million was funded by the North Jakarta Mayoralty and the remaining Rp 62.8 million by people's participation.
Wiranto disclosed that representatives from the National Commission of Human Rights, as well as the Legal Aid Institute will accompany him during the planned meeting.
He said the local residents' refusal to relocate is feared to postpone the construction of the cargo terminal project, thereby affecting Indonesia's trade with other countries. "There is no alternative. The cargo terminal project has to start on time," he said.
As the land in Koja Utara is owned by the state, the residents must relocate when the government needs it, he said. He emphasized that the government has shown its good will by giving compensation of Rp 160,000 per square meter of land and providing moving costs, as well as giving compensation for their houses, depending on their condition.
The Koja Utara residents refusing the compensation offer have continued to protest over the last few days. They unfurled banners which stated "Don't let development hurt the people", "We just want our rights" and "We demand appropriate compensation". (29)