5 - Fighting for Tiny Land: Secure Tenure and Collective Ownership for Urban Poor in Jakarta

Presentation Abstract
Most studies on property (law) concentrated on formal tenure structures (Zazyki, et.al, 2022), but urban poor has less access to legal forms of land tenure in capitalist urbanization.  Tenure systems which are not the result of a state-sanctioned legal process could be shaped by customs, habits, beliefs of residents or traditional forms of land claims.

In Jakarta, the “modern-planned” part of the city grew from a small pocket of a colonial fortress in the 17th century (Leaf, 1994; Putri,  2019; Kusno, 2020). The kampungkotas developed mainly through the occupation of marginal spaces (Putri, 2019).  The expansion of the formal “modern-planned” part unevenly erased kampungkota that have become marginal in the capitalist urbanization regime.

Through observations of Kampung Anak Kali Ciliwung (KAKC) and Kampung Kunir in Jakarta, I discuss “how local communities engage” to secure tenure through collective ownership. Accused as causes of flooding, both kampungkota received eviction notices in 2015. Kampung Kunir was bulldozed, yet fought back by reoccupying the land and forming a housing cooperative. KAKC survived eviction by negotiating and reducing their houses 5 meters from the river.  Both kampungkota joined the network of Jakarta Urban Poor (Jaringan Rakyat Miskin Kota Jakarta, JRMK) and deployed direct action and reoccupation to claim their right for secure housing. Furthermore, residents organize to formulate concepts and programs for secure and sustainable housing, to advocate to the government against eviction, towards an inclusive development policy, and to extend a collaborative network to garner more support and attention for tenure security in kampungkota.