W. Jakarta Mayor May Face Sack over Arbitrary Eviction

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said he may dismiss West Jakarta Mayor for alleged misuse of authority.

Ahok had received report from a local resident who is a victim of arbitrary eviction in Tambora, West Jakarta. “I have received a report that someone had a house with a certificate of title which contains incorrect legal descriptions. [West Jakarta] Mayor instructed the eviction. Therefore, I will have it examined because a mayor shouldn’t act like a thug. Arbitrary evictions cannot be tolerated,” he said Thursday at the City Hall.

Ahok said similar incident had often occurred in West Java. Many had even made reports to Ahok over alleged misuse of authority by West Jakarta Mayor. “West Jakarta is the most troublesome. Many had made reports that the Mayor had been guilty of arranging illegal sale of land, backing criminals. We are trying to find the evidence,” he noted.

Ahok said he will take stern action if the West Jakarta Mayor is found guilty. “Yes, he would be sacked [if proven guilty]. I haven’t sacked anyone for a long time. We’ll see, we must investigate further. I have instructed my staffers [to do so],” he said.

A resident of Krendang Indah, Tambora, West Jakarta, Andre, 45, had reported to Ahok over the eviction of his home in November 2015, even though it did not stand on land owned by Jakarta administration nor public green space. “I also have the certificate of title,” he said at the City Hall.

Moreover, Andre went on, in the build up to the eviction he had reported the issue to Ahok staffers to stop the eviction. Ahok’s aide had recommended cancelling the eviction. “Ahok staffer had sent an SMS to cancel the eviction, but the Mayor, police and Pol PP [Public Order Agency] ignored it and proceeded with the eviction,” he said. Andre pursues legal remedies.

ABDUL AZIS