Arientha Primanita – Hundreds of students of Arastamar Theological College protested in front of the City Hall on Monday demanding the city administration restore water and electricity to their dormitory in West Jakarta.

The students said they have not had power and water since Oct. 26, when officers from the West Jakarta District Court and the Sawerigading Foundation, which owns the building, partially demolished the buildings.

The building has been at the center of a dispute between the municipality and the Sawerigading Foundation.

Nearly 1,000 of the college's 1,300 students and staffers moved into the unused building after they were evicted from their East Jakarta campus in Kampung Pulo following a clash with local residents in July 2008.

City Secretary Muhayat said it was not possible for the students to move back to their original East Jakarta campus. "We fear if we do that, there will be another clash like last year," he said.

The city administration is discussing an agreement to use land in Lippo Karawaci as the relocation area for the Setia students. Muhayat said that is the long-term option the city is offering the college, adding that the Lippo Karawaci management had agreed to provide land for the development. The Jakarta Globe and Lippo Karawaci are affiliated.

Deputy Governor Prijanto said the city administration will coordinate with the Sawerigading Foundation to give the students more time to stay where they are.

"The city budgeted about Rp 10 billion this year to buy the land and buildings of the college in Kampung Pulo," he said, adding that the money can be used to build housing and a new campus.

AM Gayo, Head of the Monitoring of Domestic Security Division, said the city would also discuss with the Cibubur Camping Ground management the option of letting the students stay there temporarily.

If the Cibubur management did not agree, the students will be relocated to the old transmigration office in North Jakarta after it is made habitable.