Dozens of university students from the Medan Alliance of Students Executive Bodies staged a rally Wednesday in front of the Medan mayor's office, demanding he fire an official who allegedly issued an extralegal building permit.
The students accused the head of Medan City's Building Planning Agency, Mamora Sirait, of allowing the violation of a building permit, issued for the construction of a JW Marriott hotel on Jl. Putri Hijau.
The student's coordinator, Agus Sastrawan Harahap, said the construction violated the building permit issued on May 11, 2006.
The permit, issued to developer PT Karunia Tetap Mulia (KTM), permits a maximum height of 51 meters, or 12 floors, plus 3 levels of basement. However, the construction is now double that height, reaching some 100 meters, or 27 floors.
"The agency sent a warning letter on Jan. 14 asking PT KTM to stop building and demolish the excess building," he said.
"Not only does it violate the building permit, the building also disturbs flight traffic by encroaching on plane's safe operational area."
Agus said the agency had not taken any actions, even though the developer ignored the warning letter.
"This indicates bribery in the agency. We urge police, prosecutors, the Supreme Audit Agency and the Corruption Eradication Commission to investigate the agency and Medan city administration," he told The Jakarta Post at the sidelines of the rally.
"There is something fishy going on, because the construction continues, despite violating the building permit."
The demonstrators also called on Medan legislators not to back the investors, who broke the bylaw.
Agus said Acting Medan Mayor Afifuddin Lubis should dismiss Mamora and stop the hotel construction, until the excess height has been removed.
"Public order officers should have the guts to tear down the excess building. The officers should not be brave only when facing street vendors," he said.
"We will return in a week with a larger group if our demands are not met."
Commenting on the demands, city spokesman Rusdy Siregar said the city administration was evaluating the performance of all agency heads, including Mamora.
Agus also warned Medan city councilors not to protect businesses violating city regulations. Suspicions abound after journalists found a map of illegal buildings allegedly protected by city councilors inside Mamora's office.
