Deputy Governor Of DKI Claims No Forced Evictions During Anies' Tenure, Even Though The LBH Version Is Still Happening

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Riza Patria/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria claimed that there were no forced evictions that occurred while DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was in office.

This is in response to the nine demands made in the first warning letter or SP 1 by the Jakarta Citizens' Struggle Coalition (KOPAJA). One of his demands is to stop all forced evictions of residential residents in Jakarta.

"We thank the Jakarta Provincial Government for their input on clean water, flooding, reclamation, air quality. There are no forced evictions in Jakarta," said Riza at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Friday, April 22.

The chairman of DPD Gerindra DKI expressed his gratitude for the criticism and suggestions regarding the performance of the DKI Provincial Government submitted by KOPAJA.

However, Riza asked the public to look at the facts of the performance of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government so far. Handling the problem of flooding to handling air pollution, Riza claims, has had improvements.

"We are not anti-criticism, instead we are waiting for constructive criticism and solutions. But we also have to be fair, look at the facts, look at the data," said Riza.

"Flood progress is getting better, transportation progress is getting better, we even get awards (about transportation), air pollution, everything is getting better, more conducive, our HDI (human development index) is the highest, we have various achievements," he continued.

Riza's claim is actually different from the existing conditions. Based on the records of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), cases of forced evictions under Anies' leadership are still happening.

Examples of cases of forced evictions occurred in residents of Menteng Dalam, Pancoran Buntu II, Vegetable Gardens, Kapuk Poglar, Rawa Pule, Guji Baru, and Gang Lengkong Cilincing.

Why did this happen? According to LBH, forced evictions are still being carried out because Anies has not revoked DKI Governor Regulation No. 207/2016. Ahok's regulation is the basis for controlling the use of government-owned land without a permit.