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Jakarta Post

What does Luar Batang mosque mean without us, Mr. Governor?

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, April 30, 2016

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 What does Luar Batang mosque mean without us, Mr. Governor? A banner looking over Luar Batang village demonstrates its residents' opposition to the planned eviction by the Jakarta city administration. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Wijaya)

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or long-time residents of Luar Batang village in North Jakarta, loss of property is not merely the reason they reject the Jakarta city administration’s plan to evict them from the area. They say they have a close bond to the area both historically and emotionally, especially to its mosque.

Luar Batang had existed even before the mosque was constructed, said Bahruddin, the deputy head of community unit (RW) 01 in Luar Batang village, referring to historical Luar Batang Mosque, constructed by Al Habib Husein Bin Abubakar Alaydrus in 18th century.

Therefore, he warned the city administration not to treat Luar Batang like the Kalijodo red light district in North Jakarta and Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta, whose residents had already been evicted because the argument of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama that Luar Batang land is the state land, is baseless.

“Ahok needs to respect not only the mosque, but also the residents who live nearby. The village has existed for decades and hundreds of people from across Indonesia have occupied this land. They have lived peacefully together for years,” Bahrudin said.

Mansur Amin, the mosque secretary, said from the beginning of the eviction plan, residents had refused to be relocated from their homes because the mosque containing Al Habib Husein Bin Abubakar Alaydrus' sacred tomb, is a religious site that has a strong emotional and spiritual connection with its nearby residents.

For residents, the mosque is not merely a tourism attraction, although thousands of people across the country have visited the mosque as pilgrimage and to pray at the sacred tomb.

"The administration should note that Luar Batang mosque isn't merely a monument like the Taj Mahal in India or even Monas. It's a house of worship. What's the use of a beautiful mosque without the residents nearby who pray at the mosque?" Mansur told thejakartapost.com on Thursday.

The permanent buildings in Luar Batang village. Residents say they refuse to be relocated to low cost apartments because they claim they have been living in the village for decades.(thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Wijaya)

Speaking about the eviction's reasoning, Ahok has expressed his initiative to turn Luar Batang village into the city's religious icon. He said a vast plaza would be constructed in front of the mosque, which could a joyous walk for people from the mosque to Kota Tua, North Jakarta. The village would also be connected to the ancient Sunda Kelapa port, which would support the area to become a future nautical tourism spot.

To implement the idea, the administration plans to buy land from the residents, particularly, who can show their land certificates for wakaf (endowment for religious purpose) so that the yard of the mosque can be widened and be beautified.

For that Ahok had assigned City Secretary Saefullah to discuss the wakaf plan with the people. However, Mansur added, mosque attendants have not decided whether they would come for meeting because they are skeptical about the land purchase's purpose.

He questioned Ahok's preference to request wakaf from common and poor people instead of asking it from developers who have construction planned around the village, namely Binakarya Propertindo Group, Agung Podomoro Land, and PT Pluit Sakti Kharisma.

Mansur, referring to a map of a master plan he received, but declining to disclose its source, revealed Podomoro and Binakarya  planned to construct apartments around the village.

The main view from those apartments, including Pluit Sea View apartment, is the green space area that will be built upon Luar Batang village. Luar Batang will also become an entrance gate to the reclaimed H islet in Jakarta Bay, which will be constructed by PT Intiland Development.

Ahok and a deputy governor for spatial planning and environment, Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa, have publicly denied that the administration had issued the map. However, residents treat the map as a reference for the planned eviction.

The fishermen of Luar Batang village with an old mosque in the background.(The Jakarta Post/Ricky Yudhistira)

Mansur said the newly resigned North Jakarta Mayor Rustam Effendi once revealed that he had been ordered by Ahok to evict residents from all the buildings in Luar Batang village except the mosque. The statement was uttered during a meeting with City Council, which was also attended by representative of Luar Batang residents. However, when being clarified about such a statement, Rustam refused to give any comments to thejakartapost.com.

Kaji, another resident, expressed the hope of Ahok visiting Luar Batang to hear aspirations from its residents. He said some civil and religious organizations from other regions have also contacted the residents for support and to defend the village. In case the eviction happens without proper a discussion and solution, they have committed to back up the residents.

Mansur also said that residents have gathered their resources to resist eviction. Currently, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., residents carry out routine patrols to guard the village from outsiders, which may hinder the administration’s plan. "We'll defend every span of land here, even if it has to be with blood and our lives," Mansur said. (bbn)

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