Kebayoran Lama subdistrict head Sayid Ali said the 1,000 square-meter plot of land was formerly owned by the Culture and Education Ministry, however ownership had been transferred to the Jakarta administration.

“For the last 20 years, people built settlements on the land originally allocated for social facilities,” said Sayid as quoted by kompas.com.

There were 15 tenements on the land that were rented to newcomers who were mostly traders at the market, he said.

Sayid also added that the evictions had been planned since early this year.

“We told them about the eviction plan in March. But they asked us to wait until after Idul Fitri,” Sayid said. Idul Fitri fell in June.

As the residents had no certificates of ownership, they agreed to voluntarily tear down the houses this month. “Together we will tear down the houses,” he said.

Palmerah subdistrict planned to build a child-friendly integrated public space (RPTRA) and had the support of locals, Sayid claimed. (syl)

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