Hundreds of people who dwell on the sides of railway tracks between Manggarai station in South Jakarta and Bekasi station gave no dramatic response when hundreds of officials demolished their houses and kiosks on Wednesday.

The demolition started at 8:30 a.m. and involved around 600 personnel from the Public Order Agency, police force and PT Kereta Api (KA). Few dwellers were seen at the site; many had left the day before.

Manson, spokesperson for the East Jakarta municipality, said the people had been given prior notification of the demolition.

"This is a continuation of the program from 2005 and 2006, when we paid them compensation. Yet again, even after the previous demolition, they built houses along the tracks, so, again, we have to tear down the structures," he said.

All told 642 makeshift, semi permanent and permanent buildings will be demolished on Wednesday. The demolition is scheduled to finish by Thursday, Manson said.

Until Wednesday there were 173 structures along the railway tracks from Manggarai to Cakung in East Jakarta that still had not received compensation. "These buildings cover approximately 16,897 square meters. We're still negotiating the compensation with the dwellers, he added.

"After the demolition, we will erect fences around the area. In 2012 (the government) expects to finish building the rail tracks connecting Manggarai with Cikarang (in Bekasi)."

Alam, a citizen who had occupied the area for four years, accepted that he could not do much to protest the eviction. He admitted that he received compensation in 2005, but, like most others, again built his house there.

"Most of the residents have already abandoned their houses due to the earlier eviction order. They will live with their relatives until they get a new place," Alam said.

This is not the first time KA has evicted people from the edges of railway lines, which are the property of the state railway company. On July 2008, KA tore down buildings on the sides of railway tracks between Manggarai and Kota stations in West Jakarta.

Owners of the illegal buildings around Kebon Kelapa and Pasar Baru subdistricts in Central Jakarta volunteered their houses for demolition, which they were informed about in January. There are 250 people living in the area, most of whom work as trash pickers, street vendors, tailors and stamp makers.

Other demolitions took place earlier this year around Gondangdia station in Central Jakarta and Angke station in West Jakarta; more than 800 buildings were removed. KA offered free tickets to residents' hometowns in Java.

KA said demolition of houses along the edges of the railway tracks was part of the company's effort to enhance safety and improve railway services. The company said stones were often thrown at train windows, breaking glass and endangering passengers.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and a number of transportation experts have said that trains should be used in the capital as a way of easing traffic jams. Besides serving commuters from Greater Jakarta, KA has developed the Blue Line, which circles the city.

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