Retired Soldiers Ask President to Cancel Eviction

Jakarta (Antara) - Retired soldiers in Berland , East Jakarta , have asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to cancel plan for their eviction from their houses. The Army Engineer Directorate has ordered the families of retired soldiers to leave the houses they have lived in for as long as 50 years. "A letter has been sent to President Yudhoyono asking for the cancellation of the eviction order," Riolina Panggabean , speaking for the families said here on Thursday. In the letter they said the order gives them to leave in less than 60 days. The complex houses families of retired military personnel of various units including infantry, cavalry and military police and some active servicemen The majority of the dwellers are the families of solders taking part in the country's independence struggle in the 1940's . They paid for the maintenance, utility , tax and telephone with no aid from the state, Riolina said quoting the letter . The land and the houses were transferred to the soldiers from the Dutch colonial administration and the complex was built not with fund from the state budget. Until now there was certificate of ownership. The land is to be used to build two towers of apartments to house active solders, they told the president through the letter. "The state should treat its people on the principle of humanity, justice and human rights," the letter said. (*)