President Jokowi Meets Protesters Before Semarang-Demak Toll Road Inauguration

President Jokowi meets representatives of local people in Demak regency, Central Java province, Saturday (02/25). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Saturday (02/25) met protesters on his way to inaugurate Semarang-Demak Toll Road at Sayung Toll Gate in Demak regency, Central Java.

Several local people protested at the toll gate and held up a sign, urging that their land acquired for the toll road be paid as President Jokowi arrived for the toll road inauguration.

The President asked his Assistant Adjutant Police Commissioner Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah to invite three protesters to meet him following the inauguration.

During the meeting, the protesters told the President about the issue with the compensation for the land affected by the toll road construction.

On a separate occasion, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Hadi Tjahjanto stated that the Government will immediately follow up the issue and that President Jokowi has also ordered related ministries to solve the issue.

“It should be solved shortly if possible. The President ordered me and Minister of State Secretary to immediately solve this issue and not to inflict loss on the people or keep them waiting,” he said, adding that the local BPN office will oversee and accompany the people in the process to receive the payment.

Hadi also stated that the issue is targeted to be solved this week.

“I suppose it will be finished this week. I have also ordered the Head of the local BPN to supervise and accompany the people in the process at the court, and to immediately hand the money to them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fathoni, a representative of protesters who met the President, said that he is grateful for the meeting as it brought about a solution to the issue that the local people have had for a while.

“The arrival of the President brought a solution to us. The President has promised us that the issue will be solved. There will be no problem,” he said. (BPMI SETPRES/UN) (DH/LW)