Carlos Roy Fajarta Barus & Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – Some 200 people claiming to be residents of Pinangsia in North Jakarta protested in front of the governor's residence on Tuesday night in a show of anger over plans to evict them from their long-time homes.
The group gathered outside the home of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama at the Pantai Mutiara housing complex in Pluit, North Jakarta, demanding the governor stop his office's plan to remove houses built illegally on the banks of Anak Ciliwung river.
Gugun, 38, one of the angry protestors, claimed to have lived in the area since 1989 and demanded a new house should the residents be evicted next Wednesday.
"We've lived there for years and now they want to evict us just like that?" he said. "We're asking for a place in flats that are located somewhere near our current house."
The people, who began to flock to the area at about 10 p.m., chanted and tried to force their way into the complex to meet the governor. The rally stopped at 12.30 a.m. after officers from the North Jakarta Police arrived and instructed the group to leave.
Basuki on Wednesday said that he would continue with the planned evictions and was not concerned about the protests. "I think it's understandable that they react in such ways, but what else can we do? We won't tolerate it and the eviction must be conducted," he said.
According to Basuki, his office had held a meeting with some of the representatives of the Pinangsia community, who eventually requested the evictions take place after the National Examination period.
"They have made a promise. Now, if we wait any longer, they will make excuses like for instance wait until after the Lebaran holiday," the governor said.
The soon-to-be-destroyed houses in Pinangsia, which stretch almost three kilometers, have existed on the banks of the Anak Ciliwung river for decades.
They have been blamed for causing flooding and traffic jams between Gunung Sahari and Ancol in North Jakarta. "Now, do you prefer some 10 million people getting in distress or relocating these people?" Basuki asked.
Basuki added that his office could not grant the Pinangsia residents' demand of housing near their current location due to possible misuse of rooms. "We have had experiences where people end up renting the rooms or leave the rooms uninhabited," said Basuki.
Basuki said he did not mind criticism of his administration's planned evictions. "I understand that this is not a popular move, but my job is not about becoming popular. My job is to make Jakarta free from floods and traffic jams," he said.
North Jakarta Mayor Rustam Effendi said that 612 households would be evicted next Wednesday. "The plan was made back in 2014 and has been postponed multiple times. We will continue communicating with the local residents and issue warning letters," Rustam said.