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Fishermen reject low-cost apartments
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Fishermen of Muara Angke hold a theatrical rally on man-made islet, known as Islet G, in North Jakarta, on April 17. The islet is part of the Jakarta Bay reclamation project that the fishermen say has harmed their livelihoods. JP/Seto Wardhana (The Jakarta Post/Seto Wardhana)
I
n response to the city administration’s plan to develop low-cost apartments for fishermen that required relocation, one of the fishermen has said that such apartments did not fit their livelihoods.
"We can't live far from the coast because we need to monitor our ships continuously," said Iwan, who is member of the Traditional Fishermen Community (KNT) in Jakarta, adding that an apartment was not a home of a fisherman.
Previously, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama vowed to construct around 20,000 low-cost apartment units in Muara Baru, North Jakarta and Cakung Cilincing in East Jakarta for relocating affected residents of reclamation development.
This was after they said the government had decided to go ahead with the construction of Islet G in Jakarta Bay that was halted by Luhut’s predecessor Rizal Ramli.
Previously, the Jakarta State Administrative Court ruled on May 31 for the project to be halted. The Jakarta administration subsequently filed an appeal over the decision.
"The government has been unfair to us. Now, fishermen are figuring out a way to halt the government's decision, as well as the continuation of Islet G’s development," Iwan said.
Meanwhile, Kuat Wibisono, a member of the community’s national body (KNTI), said relocation to the apartments would burden the fishermen because they had to pay rental fees.
"I think the low cost apartments are not a solution for us. We will have to pay rental fees for the apartments forever because we won't own them," Kuat told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. (bbn)
