C. Jakarta’s ‘humane’ evictions

In a bid to practice humane relocations and boost the local economy, Central Jakarta’s Senen district head Hidayatullah plans to once again provide a place for booksellers in Kwitang.

Kwitang area was once Jakarta’s traditional book market before the city administration evicted around 300 vendors there a year ago to ease traffic congestions. The administration moved some vendors to the fourth floor of Proyek Senen, while others were moved to Jakarta City Center (JaCC) in Waduk Melati.

“The vendors complained there were not many customers there,” Hidayatullah said Wednesday.

“If Bandung and Yogyakarta can have nice traditional book markets, why can’t Jakarta?”

Bandung’s Palasari is famous for its bookstall. In Yogyakarta the book market is called Shopping Centre.

He said he had shared the idea with the city administration Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Agency, and would have to wait whether it will be approved to be included in 2010 budget allocation.

Hidayatullah was speaking at a panel discussion, “Human Rights-based Development in Jakarta: Changing Slums into Green Areas”.

Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni said her office was moving to a more humane way of “tidying up the city”. She referred to evictions as “keeping order”.

“‘Eviction’ sounds like we’re trampling on human rights.”

Sylviana said her office warned the community that would be evicted a year before the execution.
“We use a 7-3-1 principle, in which people were given notification 7, 3 and a day before execution to give them time to dismantle their houses or stalls themselves.”

She said they did not relocate evictees, as they didn’t have the land.

Central Jakarta municipality assistant for economy and development Tihang Helmi said there needed to be a balance between the rights of people needing places to find a living and the rest of the public who need their space.

Despite the municipality’s claim on humane evictions, coordinator of Poor People’s Alliance Heru Suprapto said evictions in Jakarta were still tainted by human rights violation.

“In the field, there are lots of human rights violations, such as crime offences like sexual harassment.

“It’s important to remember in the constitution, citizens are guaranteed their rights to mobility and economic activity.”

He said Jakarta’s public order bylaw limits poor people’s economic activity and places for them to live.
“When citizens do not receive a proper living in their villages and seek livelihood in the city, how will the government address this problem?”

Heru said the city administration did not have land for the poor because most areas had been transformed into trade centers and residences.

“This is unfair for the poor.”