Briman residents object to eviction

Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Many residents of eastern Briman neighborhood in Jeddah objected to the eviction notices during the five days issued by the Road and Transportation Management in preparation for the main road connecting Makkah and Jeddah. The residents filed a complaint to the Office of Road and Transportation Management Department director objecting to the evacuation while the department said that notices were wrong and no one would be removed from their property until the owners receive compensation, according to a report in Al-Madina. Jamaan Al-Zahrani said that residents were surprised by the notices of eviction that were placed on their homes without being informed of the amount of compensation or approval. He also stressed that most of the residents who received eviction notices were those who had completed all the paperwork and the required documents for more than two years, and they have what proves their ownership and their right to compensation in case of eviction. Meshal Al-Harthy said that all residents are prepared to evacuate their homes for the project and public interest. But the objection is to the process of eviction. «We won›t be leaving our homes without receiving first compensation. This will have to provide us with alternative accommodation,» he said, adding, that most of those homes are owned by people with limited income and who cannot afford alternative accommodation without compensation. Saad Al-Harthy said that it is not reasonable to demand the evacuation of homes in light of the delayed payment of compensation for the property. Director General of Roads and Transportation Department in Makkah Mohamed Tawfiq Madani stressed that he will not be pursuing evacuation of the population from their homes until the valuation of property and compensation for owners. Salih Al-Yami, road project supervisor in Jeddah, admitted that eviction notices were wrong explaining that the purpose of these notices was to visit the department for further processes. The project includes the construction of a highway connecting the cities of Makkah and Jeddah directly 5.348 km. As the site was handed over to the company contract dated 09/04/1434 H. with an amount exceeding the SR135 million.