Jakarta – Dozens of residents of Rawajati, Pancoran, South Jakarta, tried to defend their houses from demolition on Thursday, but hundreds of Public Order Agency officers were reportedly adamant about trespassing and removing furniture from the houses.

The residents and the officers, who were wearing full uniform, pushed and jostled one other, creating traffic jams in front of the Kalibata City apartment towers. Pancoran district head Hery Gunara said the evictions involved 60 families he considered "squatters".

"Some families claimed to have ownership documents from the Dutch administration. Those who think they have documents, just sue us," Hery said as quoted by tribunnews.com on Thursday. Hery said they had opened businesses and illegal parking areas around the settlement, thus creating regular traffic jams.

Kalibata City is a busy middle-income housing area that suffers vehicle congestion due to a shortage of parking spaces. Before the evictions, dozens of residents prayed together on the street, asking the South Jakarta administration to change its mind.

Hery said they would be relocated to the Marunda low-cost rental apartment block in North Jakarta, but the residents refused to move because it was too far away. He added that he had offered them the opportunity to open businesses at Tebet Market, but they had also refused. "What more can I offer them?"

The distance between Marunda and Tebet is about 30 kilometers, taking around one hour by car, without traffic. (evi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/09/01/rawajati-residents-public-