Hundreds Keep Demanding Compensation over Airport Runway Project

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Hundreds of Rawarengas residents, Tangerang Regency, who were victims of the land eviction for Soekarno-Hatta Airport Runway 3 project continued staging protests by blocking roads, burning tires, and flying kites on Friday, June 28.

“Today, we will hold a mass prayer (istighosah) while burning tires and flying kites,” the community coordinator Wawan Setiawan told Tempo, Friday, June 28.

According to Wawan, there is no party responded to their protest even on the fifth day of the act. “No response yet, either from AP II or the government,” he said.

Wawan mentioned 750 people from 145 families joined in today’s demonstration, demanding the compensation payment for their lands and houses that were evicted for Runway 3 project.

They staged the protest in a field a few meters from Soekarno-Hatta airport runway. The field and the runway where aircraft ready for taking-off or landing were only parted by the two-meter-height iron fence.

Meanwhile, the roadblocking and tires-burning resumed in several points of Jalan Perimeter Utara, road access to the airport.

The residents determined to stay as they had not yet received compensation funds for their lands and houses. 

Earlier reports suggested that the lands were still subject to a legal dispute due to overlapping claims. Thus, the compensation was deposited at Tangerang District Court following a consignment.

Since Monday, June 24, the residents staged a rally by blocking Jalan Perimeter Utara, burning tires and woods, and flying many kites. They were also prepared to face the forced execution that would be held on July 1-8.

JONIANSYAH