Feeling Annoyed, Residents Of The Kebon Nanas TPU Land Refuse To Be Relocated To Flats

JAKARTA - Residents living on the land of the former Chinese cemetery at the Kebon pineapple Public Cemetery (TPU), South Cipinang Besar Village, expressed their refusal to be relocated by the DKI Provincial Government to the flats.

Many of them admitted that they were confused because they had not received confirmation about the basis for the control and relocation plan. Residents also admit that they are confused by the socialization activities held by the East Jakarta City Government some time ago because they are more like relocation data collection than aspiration delivery forums.

Secretary of Commission A of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Mujiyono, understands the concerns of the residents of Kampung Ujung who feel disturbed because they have built buildings and lived for decades on the land based on verbal permission from the foundation that manages the funeral.

Mujiyono assessed that the government's steps to curb citizens cannot be carried out without the clarity of land legality. Secretary of Commission A of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Mujiyono, asked the DKI Provincial Government to show ownership documents before continuing the control process.

"Documents, such as certificates or Minutes of Handover (BAST) need to be submitted to residents in order to have legal certainty," said Mujiyono at the DKI Jakarta DPRD building, Thursday, December 11.

Mujiyono also emphasized that the discourse on relocation cannot be carried out before the new location is officially designated. Including if the government plans to move residents to flats and provide assistance to low-income people.

According to him, this is in line with the principles in Law Number 29 of 2007 concerning the Implementation of Public Peace and Protection.

Therefore, Mujiyono assessed that the government must prioritize open dialogue with residents, not a coercion approach.

In addition, considering that many residents have refused to relocate for economic reasons, the provincial government must prepare social protection guarantees. Mujiyono said the protection was important to ensure that residents did not just lose their homes.

"The guarantee is in the form of temporary housing rental assistance to social assistance from the Social Service," said Mujiyono.

Based on data from the collection of the East Jakarta City Government, on the Kebon Nanas burial ground, there were 280 families with 517 residents. Residents have started occupying the Kebon Nanas TPU land since the 1980s and the number has increased since 1997 due to evictions.

The plan to relocate residents from the Kebon Nanas TPU land to the Rusunawa by the DKI Provincial Government was carried out as an effort to expand and restore the function of burial land in Jakarta.

Currently, Jakarta has 80 TPUs spread across 5 cities. Unfortunately, 69 TPUs are full and only receive overlapping grave services. That way, the expansion of the Menteng Pulo 2 TPU will be used for the land clearing of 1,300 new grave plots.

A total of 11 TPUs in Jakarta are still receiving new cemeteries. However, the longer the available land is limited. The DKI Provincial Government predicts that Jakarta will no longer have a burial ground in the next 3 years if there is no expansion.