Land dispute settled, schools stay put

Mustaqim Adamrah ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/17/2008 11:15 AM  |  City

A dispute involving the Jakarta administration over land occupied by state schools since 1980 in Batu Ampar subdistrict, East Jakarta, has been settled, said Deputy Governor Prijanto.

He said Friday the lawful owner was willing to sell the land at its tax property value.

"We're now drafting a legal statement we'll submit to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office for further proceedings," he said at City Hall.

Consequently, state elementary school SDN 05 and state junior high school SMP 126 will continue to occupy and operate on the land, said Prijanto.

"Students will not need to be transferred," he said.

The land dispute between the city administration and the land owner, Weni, had worried the schools, afraid they would have to relocate.

The dispute started decades ago. In 1977, the administration bought 6,500 square meters of land in the subdistrict from Entong, who claimed he was the legal owner of the land, Kompas reported last Sunday.

Weni claimed she had bought the land from Entong in 1973 for Rp 2.5 million (US$269).

She said she completed all legal procedures in acquiring the land in 1975, witnessed by the Kramat Jati district head.

She hired workers to fence the land but they were dismissed in 1977 by officials who said they planned to build schools on it.

Her case went to the Supreme Court, which found in Weni's favor.

Weni demanded the land either be returned to her or bought by the administration.

She said if the administration refused to meet her demand, she would seal the buildings, leaving more than 1,500 students without a school.

The administration is now expected to pay Weni Rp 6.5 billion, Muhayat, the city secretary, said.

He said the administration would propose the money be included in the 2008 revised city budget or in the 2009 city budget.

"We need to report to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office first before giving the money to Weni, so such a case will not happen again," he said.

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