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Ahok accuses political rivals of using 'boat people'
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Local residents of Pasar Ikan in North Jakarta stage a protest on the day of their eviction by the Jakarta administration on Monday. Their eviction came amid the city's plan to clear illegal buildings standing on the capital's coastal line. (thejakartapost.com/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
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akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has accused his political rivals of being behind the resistance of Pasar Ikan evictees, in North Jakarta, in rejecting calls to live in low-cost apartments and to continue living in their boats.
He considered the event a soap opera. “There is a political motive behind the action. They are being encouraged. Just don’t make a soap opera [about it],” Ahok told the journalists at City Hall on Thursday, adding that the move was part of smear campaign against him ahead of the 2017 gubernatorial election.
Dozens of boats were seen on the sea, near the Pasar Ikan area after the demolition of their houses by City Public Agency officers earlier this week. The residents refused to rent city-owned low-cost apartments, arguing that they would lose their earnings if they move to the apartments.
Ahok said that the administration would not prohibit them living on their boats, but if they soon return to their evicted land, they would face a crackdown by Public Order Agency officers.
The people are making it harder for themselves and their families by rejecting the offer to live in the low-cost apartments, he said, adding that his administration had enough vacant apartments to accommodate them all.
The governor also said his administration had also prepared buses for their children to go to their schools and had prepared funds for those who need loans between Rp 5 million (US$378.72) to Rp 10 million to open businesses.
He called on the fishermen to move to the Marunda low-cost apartments, whose its location is near the sea. He said that they could then move to low-cost apartments in Kepulauan Seribu regency, soon after its construction finishes. (bbn)
