The councilors have been deliberating a bylaw on slum prevention and upgrading programs, where Dadap fishermen have urged the administration to follow the principles in the bylaw in upgrading their kampung.

“We come to follow up the slum upgrading plan, residents want to be involved in the bylaw’s deliberation,” a resident representative, Waisul Kurnia, said in a statement made available on Wednesday.

However, the councilors have asked the fishermen to entrust the deliberation process to them, while promising to invite Dadap residents’ participation in the neighborhood improvement.

Read also: LBH Jakarta to assist Dadap residents after clash

Previously, Dadap residents had met with the Indonesian Ombudsman in July, in which councilors and Tangerang administration officials, the Kosambi district head and the Dadap subdistrict head were present.

“Through the meeting we have confirmed the commitment from Tangerang Council and administration agencies that we will form a working team consisting of administration officials and the residents, to ensure full participation of the residents in the improvement of their neighborhood,” Citra Referandum, a public attorney from Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), which is the residents’ legal consultant, said.

Residents have rejected the earlier concept proposed by the administration, which wanted to build an Islamic center in Dadap. They said they did not need an Islamic center. “Let us decide together the new concept, we want an improved focus on fishermen’s welfare that is in compliance with existing spatial planning,” fisherman Waisul said. (evi)

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