As many as 45 buildings on Jalan Raya Pasar Jumat, Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, are torn down for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) depot construction. Those buildings stood atop 16 land lots which located beside Lebak Bulus Terminal.

Some of these areas already paid since 2010. And the occupants already warned to empty it since long ago, thus there is no policy to give more time

“Those are not permanent buildings. The building owners, who have been warned since long time ago to vacant their buildings, only rented the land lots which have been paid since 2010,” stated South Jakarta Mayor, Syamsuddin Noor, Thursday (6/19).

Meanwhile, Head of Jakarta Satpol PP, Kukuh Hadi Santoso, told that 500 joint personnel are deployed in this demolition. Those personnel consist of 350 Satpol PP personnel and 150 personnel from TNI, police, Public Works Department, Cleanliness Department, and Transportation Department.

Yanti (39), a soft drinks seller, admitted that she has traded on that land for five years and rented the space to landowner for Rp 500 thousand per month.

“The rent is Rp 500 thousand a month. I haven’t got place to trade again. If could, please the government to find a place for small traders like me,” she expressed.

During the demolition process, Yanti and other building owners could only resign watching their buildings demolished. After this, the land will be fenced to prevent traders from coming back.