Jakarta government forcibly evicts slum dwellers
Thousands of abuses are being committed against the poorest of the poor, who often are not even given time to collect their sparse belongings before their homes are destroyed. They are left homeless and more destitute than ever.
Jakarta (AsiaNews/HRW) Jakarta's regional government has forcibly evicted tens of thousands of residents from the capital's poor neighbourhoods, razing their homes and leaving them homeless and more destitute than ever, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a new report.
The police and army are forcibly evicting slum dwellers, beating them and destroying their homes without even giving them enough time to collect their belongings. The government of Jakarta justifies many of the evictions by claiming it must uphold public order, clear land to implement works or safeguard public property. But it has not bothered to provide alternative housing or other assistance to the displaced people.
Many used to run small shops in their communities so the loss of their poor homes also means that they no longer have any source of income.
Sophie Richardson, deputy director of the HRW Asia division, said it is not just that the government could not care less about these people: in some cases they have been chased away by gangs of thugs and the police have not intervened.
"The social disorder caused by the forced eviction of thousands of people is clearly disproportionate to any public order gains," said Richardson. "Far from improving the quality of life in Jakarta, these evictions only succeed in moving the problem to other parts of the city at great human cost." These operations are in violation of domestic and international law, including international treaties Indonesia adheres to.
For years, the Indonesian government has been seeking to attract foreign investors and to develop private production and infrastructures. HRW urged foreign investors to ensure that land earmarked for industrial development or infrastructure has been acquired without violating human rights.
"International investors and developers should be mindful of the poor track record of the country," continued Richardson. "They need to ensure that a development projects minimize the negative impact on residents."
.png)
