TheJakartaPost
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In Thailand, govt, people work together to create change
Somsook Boonyabancha - Courtesy of Somsook BoonyabanchaDuring Ali Sadikinâs governorship in the 1970s, Jakartaâs commended kampung improvement program was adopted and then adapted by Thailand
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Somsook Boonyabancha - Courtesy of Somsook Boonyabancha
During Ali Sadikin's governorship in the 1970s, Jakarta's commended kampung improvement program was adopted and then adapted by Thailand. The adaptation resulted in the Baan Mankong Collective Housing Program, launched by the Thai government in 2003 and implemented by the Community Organizations Development Institute or CODI, a public organization under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, as part of its efforts to address the housing problems of the country's poorest urban citizens. The Jakarta Post recently spoke with Somsook Boonyabancha, former director of CODI and currently the secretary-general of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR). The following are excerpts from the interview:
Question: You've visited Kampung Pulo and Bukit Duri. What do you think about the evictions in Kampung Pulo?
Answer: About 24 years back I also visited Kampung Pulo, the community there. They were trying to develop and find a way to stop the evictions at that time. I feel bad for them. I'm sorry to see the current situation because the residents, including those who were evicted, have lived there for a long time. They're not newcomers. The kampung should be a part of Jakarta's history.
Do you think evictions are a common and effective way to develop and improve the slum areas in a city?
City development is fine, as long as the development can hold all the necessities. The government also needs to give space to what already exists.
The government has to find ways for development to take care of everybody, the environment should accommodate everybody. The city shouldn't be developed only for the rich, the city is for the rich and the poor. Everybody should be involved in city development.
The city, in fact, has no money issues and has enough space for those people. So, a solution is possible. The city should be for everybody. But now, it seems that the city is about making the already poor, poorer, giving them no opportunities.
The government has to set a better housing policy.
How did the Baan Mankong program work?
In Thailand, the government and the entire community worked together to change their living conditions. They talked to the landlords. If it was the government's land, the government gave them the lease. If it was private land, they negotiated with the land owner and then they either got to buy the land or got to lease it, the government gave them the money. If they wanted to buy existing land or the land next to their existing settlements, the government also provided them the money. After that, they started changing the settlements by themselves. We did. And we learned from Indonesia.
So, what do you think Indonesia is missing nowadays?
The government, often times, sticks to regulation too much. They use land regulations to determine what should be and what should not. I think that they want to protect themselves with the regulations, like ' if you don't comply with my regulation, you're out, you're illegal, you should not get the benefit because of whatever the reason'.
Thailand and Indonesia have similar problems regarding housing near riverbanks. In Thailand, the government would allow the people living on the riverbanks to develop housing. We provided apartments in the same area. We don't move people. There are no evictions. In another case in the northern part of Bangkok, the government moved the people a little bit, but they paid for the land and developed the new housing, and the evicted people gained ownership of the new housing.
The government, indeed, already has some housing alternatives, such as the low-cost apartments, but we should do it in such a way that we discuss it with the people.
In Jakarta, the government seems to be centralized in their thinking. Most of the time, low-income people are considered criminals. Such a way of thinking creates a deep mistrust between the government and residents.
In Thailand, how do people build trust with the government or vice versa?
Indonesia is among the prides of Asia. Elections are held in the democratic society, but then the government doesn't trust the people. In fact, people are the foundation of a democratic society. People try to find solutions for themselves all the time. The government hardly helps people. If we take a look those who live in Kampung Pulo, in any kampungs, inside and outside Jakarta, does the government help them? No. they've tried to find solutions for themselves. In modern democratic society, people and government should worth together to rebuild the systems. It is important for the government to trust its people and provide better opportunities for them.
They should not look at the people as criminals. I'm sure that at least 90 percent of these people are honest. They are trying to find solutions so that their families can lead better lives and the government needs to support them. The government has to change its attitude and try to look at the people as the foundation
of society. (foy)
