Dear friends,
Some 4,646 families (18,584 people) living under the freeways of the city of Jakarta are under threat of forced eviction. They have received notices of eviction. They demonstrated on August 27 at the North Jakarta City mayor’s office and again on August 29 at the Ministry of Public Works office. In both instances, the demonstrating residents were violently dispersed by the government. Many were hurt and a number had to be brought to hospitals.
Unbowed, they will be holding another collective action, this time to hold a prayer event with the affected families in heart of Jakarta in front of historic Hotel Indonesia.
The affected families reject the government’s offer of low cost apartments or relocation to distant sites, far from job and livelihood opportunities and without adequate services and facilities. They want the government to consider their alternative solution which they with the assistance of NGOs, namely, Urban Poor Consortium and UPLINK, have devised.
Please find time to show solidarity with the poor families of North Jakarta by writing to the Indonesian government.
Below is a sample letter you may find useful.
Thank you very much.
Ted Anana
Contact Ted |
Evictions Threat in Jakarta, Indonesia
Facing eviction, the people living under North Jakarta's Jembatan Tiga expressway, which was recently damaged in a slum fire, remain uncertain about what they will do next.
Earlier report from the Jakarta Post here
ACHR is liasing with UPC in Jakata about possible strategies
Content on previous Jakarta Evictions here from Human Rights Watch
More on ACHR and Alternatives to Evictions process here
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Dear Mr. Anas,
Our organization received very disturbing information from civil society organizations and mass media in Indonesia about your government’s planned mass forced evictions of 4,646 families (18584 people) living under the freeways, such as Rawa Bebek(Block A-G),2100 families,Jembatan Tiga, 500 families,Kolong Tol Walang A, 125 families,Kolong Tol Walang B, 131 families,Kolong Tol Muara Karang, 200 families,Kolong Tol Petak Seng-Jelambar, 231 families,Kolong Tol Jalan Tongkol,159 families,Kolong Tol Warakas, 1200 families.
We are equally disturbed and alarmed about the repressive actions the government took against the affected families’ exercise of their right to assemble and to express, in this case, their protest against the government’s planned eviction. On August 27, 2007 some 600 residents demonstrated at the North Jakarta City Office and later on
August 29, 2007 another 300 residents in front of the Ministry of Public Works office. Both legitimate actions were violently dispersed by public order officers. A number of the demonstrators suffered grave injuries and had to be rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Another disturbing information is the appearance of a group calling itself Aliansi Masyarakat Jakarta (Jakarta Societies Alliance). Civil society organizations describe this group as agents provocateur who attack legitimate protesters, thereby justifying the government’s violent actions.
We feel terribly disappointed to learn about this from a city that received the UN Habitat Scroll of Honor in 2005.
As you may know forced evictions have been condemned as prima facie gross violations of human rights, in particular the right to adequate housing, by the United Nations since 1993. The right to be protected from forced evictions is amply explained in the document Forced Evictions issued by the UN Committee Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Our organization is happy to know that affected families and their NGO partners have devised an alternative solution to the problem, namely, "Upgrading the freeway community and building people's house concept by utilizing empty lands owned by DAMIJA (areas owned by Freeway Company)". The solution being proposed by the people is not only economical, reasonable and practical, it is well grounded on Indonesian and international laws, such as the right of every citizen whether man or woman to adequate housing enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, an international treaty your country has ratified and is therefore legally binding. It is also a concrete expression of the right of poor citizens not to be excluded from the city.
Unfortunately the Indonesian government does not seem to appreciate this and prefers instead to use an oft-repeated failed solution of low cost apartments or distant relocation sites, far from work and livelihood opportunities and without basic services and facilities.
We therefore demand that the Indonesian government:
1. immediately put on hold the planned eviction of the families under the freeways;
2. respect the affected families and their NGO partners’ the rights to assembly and to free expression.
3. hold dialogue with the affected families on their proposed alternative solution;
4. pay compensation to the demonstrators who were hurt by public order officers
5. suspend, investigate, and punish those found guity of violating the right of the affected families to free expression under Indonesian laws protecting this right.
We sincerely hope that your government will do what is right for the poor families and citizens of Jakarta.
Respectfully yours,
Name
Organization
Country
Cc:
Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka
UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi,Fax: (254-20) 7624266/7624267/
7624264/7623477/624060
E-mail: infohabitat@unhabitat.org
Djoko Kirmanto, Dipl.HE.
Minister of Public Works Department
Jl. Pattimura 20, Jakarta Selatan (12110)
Telepon : (021) 7203165 E-mail : dkirmanto@pu.go.id
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jl. Merdeka Selatan Blok.8-9, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Jakarta 10110
INDONESIA
Fax: +62 21 3452685/ 5268726/ 3457782
Fax: 011 62 21 345 2685 (via State Secretariat)
Telp.(021)3823288
E-mail: dkiweb@jakarta.go.id |
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Report from Urban Poor Consortium - Jakarta
Today, on August 29th 2007, three hundred (300) people from under freeway communities had a demonstration in front of the Public Worker's office in South Jakarta. The objective of the action was to meet with the Minister of Public Worker (Djoko Kirmanto) and present the alternative plan proposed by the community.
The action was coloured by clash (pushing each other) between the mass and the police officer where the police then seized the commando car (sound system car) from the demonstrator. On responding the action taken by the police officer and since the Minister refuse to meet with the demonstrator, people then halt the demonstration.
While communities were having the protest action in front of the Public Worker's office, 60 people belonging to an alliance called Aliansi Masyarakat Jakarta (Jakarta Societies' Alliance), which is in favor of eviction, had a demonstration in front of Urban Poor Consortium's office. On their oration, they accused UPC as a henchman of neoliberalism. They stated that UPC has provoked and manipulated poor people, especially those who are living under freeway, for the interest of UPC. Toward the statement, UPC make a clarification, through the media, saying that we refused the accusing by arguing that UPC has always been working with people for the interest of people.
The alliance, who also came and had the compete action in favor of the eviction on last demonstration on Monday, seem to be a paid group since they were only focus to attack UPC and not about the issue.
The action taken by alliance has shown that the fighting over the issue of Under Freeway Communities has agitated the other group who has hidden interest on the execution of eviction.
After today's demonstration, now UPC and under freeway communities try to strengthen the communities and we are also trying to influence all parties including mass media regarding the alternative plan proposed by communities.
On next Saturday, people, assisted by UPC, will held an event, as a form of campaign, by reclaiming public space (in front of Indonesian Hotel circle) where people will pray together for the sake of under freeway community. Up to this present, support has already arisen from various parties. We do hope that the campaign will able to reach out more supporters for the issue of eviction plan toward the under freeway communities.
Aside support from inside, we also need support from the outside i.e. in a form of letter to the Indonesian Government regarding the issue. Any kind of support will be very appreciated. |
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