Jakarta Residents Face Displacement as City Plans Cemetery Expansion
Jakarta, Indonesia – December 3, 2025 – Residents of Kampung Bilik in Jakarta’s Kamal subdistrict are facing potential displacement as the city government moves forward with plans to expand and renovate the Pegadungan cemetery. A formal notification,dated November 17,2025,delivered by the Kamal subdistrict governance,indicates that portions of land currently occupied by residents are included in the planned expansion.
the escalating land scarcity in Jakarta, coupled with a growing population, has intensified pressure on existing cemetery space. This situation has led authorities to consider expanding into residential areas, disproportionately impacting low-income communities like Kampung Bilik. The planned renovation of Pegadungan cemetery is part of a broader effort to address the city’s chronic shortage of burial grounds, but it threatens the homes and livelihoods of those currently residing on the affected land. The November 17th letter from the Kamal subdistrict administration serves as the first formal step in a process that could result in the relocation of numerous families.
According to the notification seen by the Jakarta Post on December 3, 2025, the city intends to utilize land currently occupied by Kampung Bilik residents for the cemetery expansion and renovation project.The extent of the land acquisition and the number of households affected remain unclear, but residents express concern over the lack of detailed information regarding compensation and relocation assistance.
