Memories Mahfud MD Defend Victims Of Bukit Duri Gusuran

Penggusuran Kampung Bukit Duri, Jakarta Selatan untuk kepentingan normalisasi Kali Ciliwung pada 28 September 2016. (Antara)

JAKARTA - The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) has many studies in tackling the Jakarta floods. Normalization of the Ciliwung River, one of which. The effort was perpetuated so that the capacity of the Ciliwung River becomes large. However, normalization efforts must be paid expensively.

The power of attorney was forced to carry out evictions in various places. Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, one of them. The eviction plan was opposed by many parties. Former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Mahfud MD took a stand. He chose to defend the victim of Bukit Duri's eviction.

The matter of cleaning up floods is a challenge for every ruler of Jakarta. Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), especially. The Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta often rack their brains so that Jakarta does not get flooded.

The Ciliwung River Normalization Program was also prepared. The project which aims to restore the condition of the river width is considered a right step. Moreover, the project is running along with the government project to present many Green Open Spaces (RTH), building water reservoirs: Blue Open Space (RTB), to Ciliwung River drains.

Jokowi-Ahok is confident that his studies can run smoothly. Alias, able to have a significant impact on reducing Jakarta floods. In fact, the normalization of the Ciliwung River is never easy. The project can only run optimally when villages on the banks of the Ciliwung River are taken care of. From Pulo Village to Bukit Duri.

Jokowi-Ahok was then forced to take an unpopular policy. They chose to eviction residents who were deemed not to have a permit on the banks of the river. The eviction agenda continues to be discussed, even though Jokowi was later elected President of Indonesia.

Ahok then took control of the position of Governor of DKI Jakarta and the eviction study began. The evictions in Pulo Village were perpetuated in August 2015. Ahok's next target is evictions in Bukit Duri. The government does not promise many things to residents in Bukit Duri, apart from placing them in the flats available.

"The Jakarta government has succeeded in realizing their dream of displacing houses or more precisely: huts, which are located in the Bukit Duri area for the normalization of the Ciliwung River as part of the hakiki from the Jakarta city development program to be more orderly, clean, healthy, safe and prosperous."

The intention of eviction is supported by many parties, especially those who are not evicted. However, the intention of eviction is not supported by Bukit Duri residents who will be evicted, especially due to land and houses, eh, sorry: the hut, which will be evicted is still in the legal process being processed by the District Court," said Jaya Suprana in the book Naskah-Naskah Humanitarian (2018).

The government began moving heavy machines to displace residents of Bukit Duri in early 2016. The eviction was focused on residents of Bukit Duri RW 10, RT 02, RT 11, and RT 15. The eviction decision is also regretted by many parties.

All because the eviction was carried out in the middle of the process of Bukit Duri residents suing the DKI Jakarta government regarding the eviction order at the State Administrative Court (PTUN). Ahok and the DKI Jakarta government did not seem to care about the lawsuit.

The action of the DKI Jakarta government, which is considered too far, has received opposition from various parties. The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mahfud MD, was one of them. Mahfud assessed that Bukit Duri's evictions contained violations of the law, as well as human rights violations.

As a form of support, Mahfud went directly to Bukit Duri to provide moral support to residents who were evicted on May 12, 2016. He fully supports the steps taken by Bukit Duri residents to file a group lawsuit against the DKI Jakarta Government.

The DKI Jakarta government must protect and protect residents, he said. Instead of displacing and making people miserable. Mahfud's arrival then became an injection of enthusiasm for all residents of Bukit Duri. Moreover, his arrival took place before the DKI Jakarta government levelled other RT RWs in Bukit Duri.

Mahfud MD's sincerity was appreciated by the residents of Bukit Duri. He was hailed as a savior. A person who dares to oppose the government's power. He also opposed that evictions in the name of development should not be carried out blindly.

"In my opinion, it is appropriate (the lawsuit), it is just a matter of doing it later. If (the government) wants to use power and regulations to have authority, that was the work of the Dutch in the past. The government must be aspirational. I provide support and the law gives the door to the people to file a lawsuit if their rights are seized arbitrarily."

"Legal standing does not need to be questioned, now many court decisions have granted citizens' claims because they have a legal standing. We hope that later the court will be responsive to what is growing in the community. I think the life of the state is like that. The people are prioritized. Because the government works to protect and empower its people," Mahfud said in Sanggar Ciliwung, Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, as quoted by Kompas.com, May 12, 2016.