Dozens of illegal squatters continue to reside in the BMW Park in North Jakarta, setting up tents along railway tracks near the site.

Nazar, 67, was busy erecting a makeshift hut from bamboo on the railway tracks connecting Kota station in West Jakarta with Tanjung Priok station in North Jakarta.

"There's nothing left for me now. My wife and I are just trying to hold on, given the present situation. We decided to set up a tent on the tracks because we don't know where else to go," Nazar told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"I just hope the city administration allows us to stay here because renting a house is too expensive," he said, adding he was unemployed, while his wife works as a used clothing vendor.

Public order officers from North Jakarta administration evicted about 4,000 illegal squatters Sunday who had been staying in the Bersih, Manusiawi dan Berwibawa (Clean, Humane and Esteemed) or "BMW" park.

Most of the squatters are employed as gardeners, factory workers, with some living off the sale of recycled trash.

The eviction turned into a melee as many squatters resisted officers, burning tires and hurling stones.

The officers, supported by police and the military, were undeterred, moving forward with heavy equipment and bulldozing houses illegally erected in the park, with the police battling protesting squatters.

Many public order officials and squatters were injured during the clash, while 10 individuals were arrested.

Illegal squatters began occupying BMW Park, locally known as Kampung Bayam (Spinach Kampung), in the early 1990s after undergrowth was cleared on the site, making way for planted vegetables in the vacant lot.

It is the second largest park in the city, after the 80-hectare Monas Park in Central Jakarta, and was built during the administration of governor Wiyogo Atmodarminto (1987-1992).

The administration had plans to restore the 66-hectare park as part of an effort to add a total of 55,540 square meters to the city's green areas.

However, that plan changed when the city announced it would instead build an international sports stadium on the site.

Deputy Governor Prijanto said at City Hall recently the administration would provide vehicles to escort squatters back to their hometowns.

"We can provide vehicles to squatters who are not originally from Cirebon (in West Java), for example. We will not provide them with any compensation, because they have illegally occupied the city administration's land," Prijanto said.

In response to the deputy governor's statement, many squatters announced they would refuse to return to their hometowns, preferring to make a living in the capital.

"I've worked as a housekeeper in Jakarta for years. What am I supposed to do back in Kuningan (in West Java)?" said one squatter, Cuhayati, who continues to make his home amid the debris-strewn park.

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