Libi Cat Statue In Cakung Susun Village, A Symbol Of Residents' Struggle For Bukit Duri Eviction Victims

Libi's cat statue at the Kampung Susun Produktif Tumbuh Cakung, Jakarta, Thursday (25/8/2022). ANTARA/Yogi Rachman

JAKARTA - Residents of former Bukit Duri, victims of the eviction of the Ciliwung River normalization project, initiated a statue of the cat Libi in the Kampung Susun Produktif Tumbuh Cakung, East Jakarta.

"This cat statue was initiated because at the time of the eviction, I saw above the destroyed Ciliwung Studio, there was a cat named Libi," said Bukit Duri community leader Romo Sandiawan as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 25.

Sandiawan said that Libi's cat was the pet of the children of Sanggar Ciliwung. When there was an eviction of residents' settlements in Bukit Duri, the cat was also affected.

"The beko destroyed the top of the studio, among the dust the cat was thrown," said Sandiawan.

He thought the cat would die after the Sanggar Ciliwung building was demolished using heavy equipment, but a miracle happened, the cat was still alive.

"We thought the cat would die soon, but the next day, the children reported that the cat was sitting sobbing at the site of the destroyed studio," said Sandiawan.

Sandiawan said Libi's cat was always in the rubble of the destroyed Ciliwung Studio building.

"Every 15.00 WIB, the cat always sleeps in that location, or the ruins," he said.

It was the story of the Libi cat that became the inspiration until it became a symbol of the loyalty and struggle of the residents of Bukit Duri who were victims of settlement evictions.

"We made this cat named Libi a symbol of the struggle, loyalty, and persistence of residents who yearn for a humane place to live that is full of mutual cooperation, this is the statue of the cat Libi," said Sandiawan.

Sandiawan added that the Libi cat statue was made by the developer of the Cakung Growing Productive Flats, East Jakarta.

Previously, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan inaugurated the Kampung Susun Produktif Tumbuh Cakung, East Jakarta, for residents who were relocated from Bukit Duri.

Anies said the flats that cost IDR 52 billion were built for approximately 10 months by carrying out designs that took lessons from the journey of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The house is designed to be a productive house and this is also the name for it, Cakung Growing Productive Flats," said Anies.

There are 75 units of rooms in the Cakung Growing Productive Flats.

The residential rooms of the Cakung Growing Productive Flats have a mezzanine design that can be used by residents who live.