T

he city administration tore down dozens of illegal buildings in front of the Lebak Bulus Stadium in Cilandak, South Jakarta, on Monday to make way for the construction of a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) depot and station.

The first track of the MRT will connect Lebak Bulus and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. '€œThe illegal buildings occupied city administration-owned land that needed to be cleared for the MRT construction,'€ South Jakarta Deputy Mayor Tri Djoko said at the site on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

As many as 23 families occupying a 31,000-square-meter site in the area were forced to relocate when joint personnel from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the military and the police arrived at 7 a:m with heavy equipment. Among the semi-permanent buildings were small-business premises such as food stalls.

Tri said the administration had previously disseminated the relocation plans to the squatters. '€œWe have planned the relocation since 2010. This land belongs to the administration, so we had the authority to clear it up,'€ he said.

Tri said the Lebak Bulus Stadium, which was once the home ground of football club Persija, would be demolished soon as the city administration had secured the required recommendation letter from the Youth and Sports Ministry to carry out the work. '€œWe want to do it soon. Probably early next year,'€ he said without elaborating.

The city administration has plans to build a new stadium at the Bersih, Manusiawi dan Berwibawa (BMW) Park in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, to replace Lebak Bulus Stadium. The plans, however, have been put on hold because of a legal dispute with local residents regarding land ownership.

City secretary Saefullah said the demolition could be carried out before the completion of the new stadium construction at BMW Park.

Separately, MRT project operator PT MRT Jakarta president director Dono Boestami said the demolition of the illegal buildings was in line with the MRT project'€™s schedule.

He added that the eviction process went smoothly, despite opposition from some of the affected residents. '€œIt is in line [with the construction plan]. We'€™ve seen no obstruction to the project so far,'€ Dono told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

Meanwhile, decorative stone seller Susilawati, 37, expressed disappointment over the lack of compensation following the eviction. '€œA few officials visited the location and measured the site. I thought it was to determine the amount of compensation,'€ she said as quoted by kompas.com.

Susilawati said her family had lived in their home in the area since 1985 as per an agreement between her family and the Lebak Bulus Stadium management.

She admitted that her family had never secured a land certificate.

Noodle seller Nery, 40, said most residents were against the relocation as they had lived in the area for years.

'€œThey all opposed the relocation. But I think I have no choice,'€ Nery said.