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Images from the demolition of riverside slum Kampung Pulo.
On Thursday 20 August, residents of Jakarta’s riverside slum Kampung Pulo lost their homes.
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama ordered in the bulldozers to tear down the ‘illegal’ shacks in the slum, which has been subject to ongoing flooding. The slum, on the banks of the Ciliwung River, was also blamed for flooding in other parts of the city. The land seized from Kampung Pulo’s 3,400 residents will be used to expand the capacity of the river.
While offered new, low-cost apartments nearby, many of the locals resisted the demolition, to no avail. The evictions turned violent with clashes and injuries. The slum dwellers have subsequently been painted as villains and ungrateful by locals and media alike.
“One thing for sure is that we need to make sure that there are no more houses and other buildings along both of Ciliwung’s riverbanks. Then the river revitalisation project and the new housing project will follow through right after,” Ahok told Indonesian media.
In this photo essay, photographer Ray Yen captures some of the scenes from the eviction and demolition.
The demolition site caused a huge traffic jam.
I visited Kampung Pulo last year and took my first getek (a bamboo raft) here. Now it’s all gone.
People watching the demolition of kampung Pulo.
Kids playing on the riverbank and at the demolition site where a dozen of big trucks and diggers were operating.
Food vendors setting up shop by the demolition site to cater to the people watching the end of kampung Pulo.
Even a Nazi had to stop by to have a look at what was going on.
Sunset.
The homes that survived the demolition, for now.
It was terrifying to move around these heavy machines with countless blind spots.
A river-based rubbish savager (pemulung) floating in the filthy river with his cigarette.
Kids never miss the chance to climb a gigantic machine. Having done this on a Leopard tank recently, I can relate.
Residents salvaging the remains of their home.
A river-based rubbish savager (pemulung) floating in the filthy river with his cigarette.
A resident living next to the demolition site trying to tame the dust with water.
A digger clawing along the river.
A giant digger clawing its way up to the riverbank.
The low-cost apartment nearby the demolition site.
Residents outside the low-cost apartments built by the Ministry for Public Works.
People settling in at their new home.
On the bright side, now they don’t need to play football at the landfill on the side of the river.
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Pak Adi and his family salvaging bricks at the demolition site.
Pak Adi’s family has been living by Ciliwung river for three generations. Due to Jakarta government’s flood-mitigation project, his family is now forced to relocate to the low-cost apartment built by the Ministry of Public Works nearby, where he would be living with his wife, children, his mother, two siblings and their families. He makes a living selling batu akik rings in the nearby market.
“If I had a choice I wouldn’t want my family to live here either. We only live here because we are not wealthy enough to move somewhere else.”
Pak Adi is disappointed by Ahok’s handling of the situation. He believes that Ahok is largely ignorant of the suffering he’s causing. “I pray for Ahok.”
He quoted Luke 23:34 from the Bible. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Ray Yen is a graduate of the Australian National University’s College of Asia and the Pacific currently living in Jakarta.