Angry mob rejects eviction in East Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Mon, May 20 2013,


Hundreds of residents of Sumur village in Klender, East Jakarta, blocked a road to prevent a housing developer and personnel from the public order agency (Satpol PP) from evicting them from their residences.

East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Mulyadi Kaharni said on Saturday that the angry mob stopped dozens of vehicles passing on Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai, flattening their tires to prevent Satpol PP personnel from entering the area.

Rumors had spread that PT Griya Cipta Karisma with the help of the public order agency would evict all residents from the village. The housing developing company has claimed ownership of the land in the village.

Residents have occupied the land for 32 years and claim the land is in a status quo as stipulated in a verdict by the Supreme Court when it reopened the case in 2012.

The mob dispersed after the police promised to facilitate mediation between residents and the company management at the East Jakarta municipality office on Monday.

Mukhlis, an informal leader in the village, appreciated the assurance from the police that there would no eviction on that day.