Fire: A familiar visitor to Jakarta's markets<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Last Saturday morning, Richo, a kiosk owner in the Melawai Market
\nin Blok M, South Jakarta, noticed people measuring the area; the
\nkind of activity that often takes place prior to a construction
\nproject proceeding.<\/p>\n
Two days later, fire engulfed the market, destroying over
\n1,000 kiosks, including Richo's. The fire also displaced 1,500
\ntraders and inflicted economic losses of at least Rp 750 billion
\n(US$75 million).<\/p>\n
Amid the bustle of recovering what they have left from the
\nblazing buildings, traders could not help but think that the
\nincident had something to do with a planned renovation of the
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
\"It is just too much of a coincidence. They (the market
\noperator) had just posted a notice of renovation on walls,\" said
\nRicho, pointing to a letter from PD Pasar Jaya in front of a
\nkiosk.<\/p>\n
The notice, dated Aug. 11, required traders to submit their
\npermits for re-registration in line with the Melawai Market
\nrenovation program for 2005 and 2006.<\/p>\n
Pasar Jaya president director Prabowo Soenirman confirmed the
\nrenovation plan on Monday. The new market, he said, would include
\na residential compound.<\/p>\n
\"Considering the value of the land, we plan to make a mixed-
\nuse complex on this 2.1 hectare area. The upper levels will be
\nfor apartment units and a hotel, but the lower part would still
\nbe for a modern market,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Later on, Prabowo denied the plan. \"It is not true. It will
\nstill be a market,\" he said, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Governor Sutiyoso emphatically denied that the fire
\nhad anything to do with the renovation plan.<\/p>\n
As for the planned apartment units and hotel, Sutiyoso said
\nthat he would not intervene.<\/p>\n
\"As long as it still makes sense and the vendors can still do
\nbusiness there, there should be no problem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Melawai is not the only market in the Greater Jakarta area
\nthat has been burned to the ground just prior to major renovation
\nwork; work that often receives strong opposition from traders.<\/p>\n
In January 2003, 111 kiosks in Senen Market in Central Jakarta
\nwere destroyed by fire. The Senen area is currently being
\nredeveloped a new planning project.<\/p>\n
In February 2003, fire burned down a large portion -- some
\n2,200 kiosks -- of Southeast Asia's largest textile market, Tanah
\nAbang in Central Jakarta. Before that fire, traders were also
\naware of a renovation plan for the market.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso confirmed the plan for the Tanah Abang Market,
\nexplaining that it aimed to increase the capacity of the market.
\nHe also denied allegations that the plan had anything to do with
\nthe fire. Police have been unable to determine the cause of that
\nfire.<\/p>\n
Two years later, a 14-storey air-conditioned modern market
\nstands on the site. According to Kompas daily, old traders were
\nallocated four-square-meter kiosks in the basement and on the
\nfirst to seventh floors of the new building. They each had to pay
\nRp 20 million per square meter for these kiosks.<\/p>\n
Despite the decreasing business, vendors in Melawai Market
\nreported a gradual increases in the monthly fees they have to pay
\nto the market operator.<\/p>\n
\"We were told that there would be a gradual increase of 100
\npercent in monthly fees, starting in 2003 until the end of this
\nyear,\" said Richo.<\/p>\n
Before the raise, a vendor had to pay Rp 17,500 per square
\nmeter, or an average of Rp 175,000 per month. Vendors who
\nnormally occupied a 3 meter by 3.5 meter kiosk now have to pay
\nbetween Rp 400,000 and Rp 595,000 per month.<\/p>\n
\"That is why traders were slowly leaving the place. It become
\ntoo expensive for them have to pay Rp 8 million a year to the
\nkiosk's owners,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We do not mind the renovation plan but we are concerned by
\nhow much it will cost us to move into the new kiosks once the new
\nbuilding has been completed,\" said a trader Amris.<\/p>\n
I-box
\nFires in Greater Jakarta markets<\/p>\n
1994:
\nAldiron Plaza at Melawai, Blok M, South Jakarta. The building has
\nnot functioned normally since the fire.<\/p>\n
Jan. 26, 2003:
\nSenen Market , Central Jakarta. The fire burned down 111 kiosks.
\nSenen area is currently under a new planning project.<\/p>\n
Feb. 22, 2003:
\nTanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta. Fire burned down at least
\n2,200 kiosks. Currently the area has evolved into a modern market
\nwith a 14-storey building standing on the site of the destroyed
\ntextile markets.<\/p>\n
Aug. 24, 2005:
\nKemiri Muka Market, Depok. Fire destroyed 592 kiosks. Depok city
\nadministration had planned to turn the market into a modernized
\none in 2002, but vendors opposed the plan fearing that they would
\nnot be able to afford the prices of the new kiosks.<\/p>",
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