Govt Dismantles 14 Villas Standing on Protected Areas in Bogor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around fourteen villas that sat on a stretch of land considered by the state to be protected in Bogor was dismantled by the Environmental and Forestry Ministry today, April 24.

State forestry management company Perhutani Director of Operations Heri Priyono said that the government executed the evictions following the Indonesian Supreme Court verdict that say the 368-hectare land was owned by the government, which was previously claimed by Yulius Pumbatu.

“The structures are in an area inside the Babakanmadang and Cipayung forest resort (RPH), which will be returned to its original use as a protected area,” said Heri.

Thousands of trees will be planted in the area to restore the land. The trees will function as a water absorption area in the vicinity of Bogor, Puncak, and Cianjur.

The government had initially sent a notice to the dismantlement but were not responded by owners of the buildings. “We had no response from the owners after we gave them a one-week deadline, we were then forced to dismantle the structures,” said Heri.

However, representatives of Yulius Pu Umbatu objected the forced dismantlement done by the government since the Supreme Court’s verdict is being judicially reviewed.

Muhammad Sidik Permana