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Do you want to be evicted? asks Ahok's wife
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's wife Veronica Tan (left) and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat's wife Happy Farida speak before Ahok-Djarot supporters at Rumah Lembang, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Ahok-Djarot campaign team/File)
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eronica Tan, the wife of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, met a number of women who support the Ahok-Djarot Saiful Hidayat ticket at Rumah Lembang, the ticket's campaign team headquarters, in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. One of the topics discussed was Ahok's tough policy on evictions.
Veronica seemed to try to convince the audience that evictions and relocations were for sake of the residents themselves, in order to allow them to have better places to live and to avoid flooding.
“Do you want us to evict you?” Veronica asked. “People would chose eviction if they realized they would get better homes, more comfortable bedrooms as well as parks and a healthy environment.”
(Read Also: Ahok returns to City Hall this weekend)
Veronica’s claim was in response to a question asked by Dewi Kencana, a woman living along a railway track in Bukit Duri in South Jakarta who said she heard about possible evictions in her neighborhood.
“Many of us have lived there for many years, since their grandparents’ days. If the administration evicts us, will we get suitable compensation? Personally, I don’t own a house so if the governor offers me an apartment, of course I would accept it,” Dewi said.
As governor, Ahok has cleared numerous riverbanks, including in Kampung Pulo and Bukit Duri, forcing thousands of residents to move to low-cost apartments and pay Rp 300,000 (US$22.50) in monthly rent.
The evictions have been condemned by a number of human rights groups. (bbs)
