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Weeks of parent opposition against West Java school demolition bears fruit
A plan to repurpose a school in Depok, West Java, faced fierce opposition from the parents, with West Java's governor stepping in following weeks of protests against forced early eviction.
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A group of parents and guardians of school children attending Pondok Cina 01 state elementary school in Depok, West Java are seen confronting Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel in front of the school premises on Dec. 11, 2022. The group formed a human barricade to thwart a forced eviction attempt by the authorities, who plan to repurpose the grounds for a new mosque. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)
W
est Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has temporarily pulled the plug on Depok city administration’s plans to repurpose a school into a mosque, following weeks of protests from concerned parents that culminated in a human blockade to thwart off a forced eviction attempt on Sunday.
The decades-old Pondok Cina 01 State Elementary School was set to give way for a new mosque starting next year, due to complaints from local Depok residents of a lack of mosques on the Jl. Margonda Raya main throughway.
The plan, however, has faced fierce opposition from the parents of the students who still attend the school, with West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil deciding to take their side following weeks of protests.
“Since the [problem regarding ownership] of the land is still in contestation, I have sent a letter [informing the Depok city administration] that funding [for the construction of the mosque] will be postponed indefinitely until this problem has been peacefully resolved,” Ridwan said on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
He was referring to the Rp 18.8 billion (US$1.2 million) required for the construction of the mosque that was set to be sourced from the West Java regional budget.
Through the letter, Ridwan said he had instructed the Depok city administration to look for a win-win solution and to ensure the pupils’ access to schooling is not interrupted. However, Ridwan also said he could not intervene any further, since the mayor of Depok had authority over state elementary schools.
Human barricade
