Jakarta – Hundreds of squatters staged a rally in front of West Jakarta Mayoralty on Monday, protesting Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra for issuing an eviction order against them.

The squatters claim the owner of the one-hectare plot next to Mal Taman Anggrek shopping center, Munawar Salbini, permitted them to occupy and cultivate the land.

The mayor, upon the request of private firms PT Sinar Slipi Sejahtera, PT Bank Dewa Rudji and PT Surya Dewata, which have claimed the land, has issued three eviction orders, urging the squatters to vacate the plot.

The squatters have vowed not to leave the land and have ignored the mayor's order, because they were there by permission of the landowner, city news portal beritajakarta.com reported.

Munawar and the private firms have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the land, but it is unclear whether the issue has been settled.