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After forced eviction, Semarang fishermen insist on living near sea
The Semarang mayor defends the eviction, saying he informed the residents about the order to move, but they did not obey, hence the demolition.
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Tambakrejo kampung in Semarang. (Tribun Jateng/Akhtur Gumilang)
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fter their houses got demolished last week, 97 affected fishermen families kept refusing to relocate to a prepared low-cost apartment that is far from the sea and negotiated with the Semarang administration to move to a nearby location.
In a forum between the administration and hundreds of Tambakrejo residents, mediated by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, the city finally agreed to relocate the residents to nearby Kalimati.
The Semarang administration forcefully evicted 97 families from Tambakrejo on Thursday after they refused to move to a low-cost apartment in Kudu, 10 kilometers away from their neighborhood. After the forced eviction, they stayed under the bridge and in makeshift tents erected by volunteers.
“It’s impossible for you all to stay in tents,” Ganjar said in the meeting. He reiterated the administration’s offer to relocate them to Kudu, but the residents refused and insisted on continuing to live in the area because of their occupation as fishermen.
“If we stay far from here, what would become of us,” said Tambakrejo resident Rohmadi.
He cited a previous agreement stating that affected people would temporarily move to Kalimati, not far from Tambakrejo. However, the site had to be filled with soil first before temporary buildings could be built there.
“But before the administration made good on its promise, they already evicted us like this,” Rohmadi said.
