Petak Sembilan market finally demolished<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A demolition squad has torn down the Petak
\nSembilan market in the west of the city, putting an end to the
\ntraders' two-months of inner turmoil.<\/p>\n
A demolition order was issued by the West Jakarta mayor on
\nMarch 28. No other warnings were issued, traders told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
A total of 400 merchants who traded on the Petak Sembilan
\nroad, earning Rp 200,000 to Rp 2 million a day, were affected.
\nThe 600-meter road had always been virtually blocked to traffic.<\/p>\n
Most merchants traded there for 30 years.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim Lakoni, deputy district head of Taman Sari, said that
\nthe demolition was conducted to ease traffic in the area.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to easing the traffic, the government is planning
\nto restore historical sites in this area,\" Ibrahim said.<\/p>\n
Following the mayor's notice, traders feared the demolition
\nwould be carried out last month. The government provided
\nalternative sites for the traders in Sawah Besar, Jembatan Besi
\nand Glodok but they refused to move.<\/p>\n
The traders' objection was that they would be split up and
\nsent to different locations whereas they wanted to stick together
\nand give customers easy access to their variety of goods.<\/p>\n
\"We did not expect this to happen at all. Besides, past
\nattempts to demolish the market were always held on a Wednesday,\"
\na vendor said, submissiveness written all over his face.<\/p>\n
Both the traders and the government claimed legality over the
\nsite of the market. Traders said they had the right to sell their
\ngoods there since they regularly paid fees to certain local
\nauthorities. But government officials said their leases had
\nexpired two years ago.<\/p>\n
Some traders have complained about the exorbitant rentals
\ndemanded by certain government officials at the market.<\/p>\n
\"Where would we get Rp 25 million from for a two by two meter
\nkiosk?\" Pardi, a trader, said referring to the asking price for a
\n10-year lease.<\/p>\n
Thamrin, a spokesman of the traders, said that government
\nofficers were still collecting daily fees from the traders.<\/p>\n
\"First, being common people and easily oppressed, we will soon
\nbe tenants of this country,\" Thamrin added in exasperation.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim, however, denied accusations that daily fees have been
\ncollected from traders throughout the years.<\/p>\n
Most traders do not know where to go to now.<\/p>\n
A woman, desperate in her attempt to save her stock of
\ncosmetics and perfume, was searching through the remnants of her
\nkiosk for her box of money which she said contained at least Rp 2
\nmillion. (14)<\/p>",
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