Bekasi Regency, Authority to Open Burangkeng Landfill by Force

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bekasi administration planned to open Burangkeng landfill (TPA) forcibly along with security officers after it was blocked by the local community since Monday last week. The closure resulted from the compensation request made the people living in the area.

“We give a chance to the district leadership assembly or Muspika to hold a discussion, so they are willing to open the landfill,” said Bekasi regional secretary Suhup on Wednesday, March 13.

The government, he added, had provided a limited time until today to open the landfill. However, if the local community refuse to do so, his side and the police will open the Bekasi’s only one landfill by force.

Read also: Garbage Issue; Bekasi Mayor: We're Not Jakarta's Servant

“It’s an official, legal TPA. Don’t drag this issue on because the impact is too risky,” Suhup underlined.

It has been ten days since Burangkeng landfill is sealed by the people living in the area, halting the operation of 112 garbage trucks owned by Bekasi Environment Agency. Even some of the trucks had been filled with trash since last Monday.

A discussion between the government and the locals represented by team 17 at Plasa Pemkab Bekasi entered a dead end. The Bekasi administration refused to pay compensation in the form of money as it was not ruled in the existing government regulation. The compensation will be provided for the sector of education, health, and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a representative of Team 17, Ali Gunawan, insisted that Burangkeng landfill will not be opened until the government provide compensation in cash and threatened to conduct permanent blockade.

ADI WARSONO