The Surabaya municipal administration is encouraging residents who were evicted from their homes along the banks of the Kalimas river to move into subsidized flats built by the administration.
The administration recently built the subsidized flats, including those in Wonorejo Kenjeran, and Tamahmerah, to accommodate the city's poor as well as the evictees, who recently had been evicted from Jagir, Wonokromo.
The municipality said that it would gradually complete installing facilities in the flats.
The head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Board (Bappeko), Tri Rismaharini, said on Friday there are enough flats to accommodate the evictees as well as other poor people who want to live there.
Risma said the administration plans to build three other subsidized apartment blocks next year. One will be in Babat Jerawat sub-district, Pakal district; the two others will be in Sememi sub-district, Benowo district.
Head of the Surabaya Building and Land Management department, Djumadi, said the municipality had allocated funds from the 2009 revised regional budget to build the three blocks of flats.
Technically, Djumadi said, the East Java provincial administration will build the flats in coordination with the municipality and related departments.
Even though the three blocks of flats will not be built until next year, the municipality will continue to evict residents living along the banks of Kalimas river.
However, only a small number of evictees are willing to live in subsidized flats. Many of them are waiting for clear regulations on rent and ownership to be made regarding the flats.
Poor infrastructure in the area, including the limited availability of clean water and electricity, has deterred many from moving in to the flats. Furthermore, the location of the building is far for the city center and availability of public transportation in limited.
"Our children still need education. Their schools are located near our previous houses. This condition also has prevented us from moving far away from here," said Ening, a mother of two.
The evictees continue to wait for what they find an acceptable solution to the problem. They have demanded the municipality be held accountable for the loss of their homes and incomes.
The former residents have gathered support by staging rallies and demonstrations and have asked for international NGOs to support their struggle.
Recently, a child died after boiling water was accidently poured over her by her parents, who work as meatball vendors, as they ran away from authorities in a raid conducted by Surabaya Public Order officers in the Wonokromo area.
Several national politicians, including a presidential candidate, have expressed their sympathy to the victim.
These incidents and others like them across the country have triggered calls for the public order institution to be dissolved.
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