Page 21 - Mediajaya 08 Edition 2020

MEDIA JAYA | 08 2020

ful that the shelter built in the area ta has given signs to restore the area. 500 residents, but some has chosen to
prevents his house from getting leaks. Finally, in August 17th, 2020, the stay in the rented houses or flats.
The shelter helps accomodate other governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan Dharma Diani, who serves as the
residents, too, so they didn’t have to attended the groundbreaking cere- coordinator for Kampung Akuarium,
stay in the tents anymore. However, he mony for the restoration program in explained that the residents’ four
still hoped the government would re- Kampung Akuarium. The residents years of waiting on adequate housings
build his house. were cheering happily. Topas, who at- would be fulfilled soon. “But it’s not
60 year old Darmiah also felt the tended the ceremony himself, was ec- yet fulfilled. The reconstruction just
bitterness of living in a makeshift tent. static. His wish of having adequate about to start,” she said. Diani told
She had to be soaked when it rains housing would be granted. He, who us that she still remembers the time
and suffered from the heat when it’s serves as the head of neighborhood she was being evicted on April 2016.
dry. Although the current condition is unit (RT) 12 in community unit (RW) 04 At that moment, she and other resi-
better compared to previous years, in Penjaringan Subdistrict, said that dents were being forced to move from
since she could live in the shelter. “I the residents need to be transferred the area without prior notice. Some
had to experience living in a tent, then first before they start the restoration. chose to stay on the area, while some
a hut, and now a shelter. I hope when I “Yes, they are being moved to a near- others chose to leave. “It’s not fair
get to live in a house later, I dont have by aera as to ease the construction,” that we were being forced to move out
to pay the rent. If I have to, I wish it said Topaz. without any explanations. We filed the
doesnt cost me much,” she said. It is planned that the management class action lawsuit to Central Jakar-
Topaz Juanda, a 36 year-old event of the flats would be handled by the ta Court. We have our rights and obli-
organizer also hoped that his long- residents themselves. Currently there gations, so we stayed,” she said while
dream of having a comfortable and are 105 families (KK) who live in the reminiscing the devastating moment.
clean house could be happened in no area, with a total of 350 residents. It’s After continuing their fights, Kam-
time. In fact, the government of Jakar- supposed to be 200 KK with a total of pung Akuarium residents finally got to

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We just want to have a permanent house here.
Since we are working here and we cant move
away from Kampung Akuarium.

Tedi Kusnendi,
one of the residents at Kampung Akuarium,
Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

An ice-cream seller
peddling his ice
cream in Kampung
Akuarium, Penjarin-
gan, North Jakarta

Credits
Dharma W.