Refusing To Be Relocated, Karet Tengsin Residents Who Were Evicted By The DKI Provincial Government Even Asked For Money Compensation

Land sign belonging to the DKI Provincial Government in Karet Tengsin/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Dozens of houses of Karet Tengsin residents, on Jalan Mutiara RT 07/04, Tanah Abang Village, Central Jakarta, will be evicted by the DKI Provincial Government. The land area of 4,695 occupied by residents for decades is now starting to be claimed by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government based on a court decision.

The Head of Karet Tengsin M Hari Ananda said that the residents had occupied the land for a long time. Some have even lived there for decades.

"It's been from the 80-90s," said Hari when contacted, Thursday, September 30.

Hari stated that the land there had been the object of dispute for years. In 2019, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government was finally officially designated as the owner of the land based on a court decision.

Now the provincial government will begin to socialize the residents there to leave their homes. However, Hari confirmed that the provincial government would also provide flats as a solution for evicted residents.

"Right now, the stages are already installing the asset signposts first, after that we are waiting for directions from the city level for socialization and relocation to flats," he said.

Hari said there were a total of 50 families who occupied the land. As many as 21 families are residents with Jakarta ID cards while the rest are outside DKI. He said that in general there was no resistance from residents.

There are only a handful of residents who object.

"Not all of them, there are figures there who also say that the legal process is still ongoing. Meanwhile, what we know is that the last appeal was rejected," he said.

In response to the eviction plan, residents of RT 07/04 Karet Tengsin Village, Tanah Abang refused to be moved to an apartment (Rusun) in Pulo Gebang, Cakung, East Jakarta.

One of the refusals came from a resident named Zaitun (60). Zaitun admitted that he had lived on the land for 46 years, Karet Tengsin. He admitted that he objected to the plan to move residents to the flats. Moreover, the information received is that the flats provided are located far away in the Cakung area, East Jakarta.

"We'd better ask for compensation in the form of money, so we can buy a house elsewhere. I'm already old, don't tell me to go to the flat, I'm tired," said Zaitun.

Firmansyah (57) also made a similar complaint. He has lived for 27 years on land that has been controlled by the government.

According to Firmansyah, the government should look at the condition of the residents here, not just move people to the Pulo Gebang flats.

"If we move to a flat and we continue to pay there, it will be a hassle for us. We are still in a disaster and we are told to pay for the flat," he complained.

Firmansyah reminded the Central Jakarta City Government not to make it difficult for residents who have been affected by the disaster. Don't just play with the demolition of people's houses on this land without first moving the residents to a proper place.

"We are asking for justice here. We are natives of DKI Jakarta, please respect us," he said.

As is known, the DKI Jakarta Regional Asset Management Agency (BPAD) has installed a sign indicating the land is an asset belonging to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

Acting Head of BPAD DKI Jakarta Reza Pahlevi said the installation was a form of securing land assets belonging to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

The land area of 4,695 square meters was obtained by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government after winning the trial at the Central Jakarta District Court.

After securing physical assets in the form of installation of signs, DKI Jakarta BPAD will then cooperate with the State Land Agency to carry out land measurements and the process of changing names.