Puring flea market still under dispute<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta mayoralty office is yet to
\nsettle a dispute with traders of the popular 27-year-old Taman
\nPuring flea market, following a planned demolition of the shops,
\nan official said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Deputy mayor Thamrin Ekajati said the demolition of the shops
\nwould be carried out as soon as his office received approval from
\nGovernor Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
\"If the governor gives his OK now, we'll remove the vendors
\nfrom the park right now,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said the idea to clean up the area came from the
\npublic, who repeatedly complained of traffic congestion and a
\ngarbage backlog in the area.<\/p>\n
He said in his opinion the city administration had shown
\ntolerance to the Taman Puring traders by permitting the vendors
\nto carry on with their enterprises. The market offers a wide
\nrange of secondhand items, including electronic goods, sports
\nitems, mobile accessories and household appliances.<\/p>\n
In response to the public's complaint, the city administration
\nhad decided to return the area to its previous function as a
\ngreen site in the capital, he said.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said the vendors had been provided with various
\noptions, such as help with moving to 11 other similar markets in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
\"But it's the traders themselves who make their own
\ndecisions.\"<\/p>\n
The traffic congestion usually reaches its peak on weekends
\nwhen people of all walks of life flock to the market to either
\nbuy and sell goods.<\/p>\n
The flea market is also known as a popular destination for the
\nsale of stolen goods.<\/p>\n
Late last year, the local authority invited victims of the
\neconomic crisis the opportunity to open nonpermanent structures
\non the left side of the market, which was formerly a park.<\/p>\n
Many people, including genuine traders, packed the site and
\nhave enjoyed running businesses there, complicating matters for
\nthe South Jakarta administration office.<\/p>\n
According to the initial plan, all shops and kiosks at the
\nmarket were to be demolished last Thursday.<\/p>\n
The plan, however, was canceled following the visit of a
\ndelegation of vendors led by Bambang Herry to the city council
\nand City Hall two days earlier.<\/p>\n
At the meeting Herry proposed an idea to refurbish the flea
\nmarket as a tourist market and park, which would preserve the
\npark's function and attract tourists.<\/p>\n
In response, head of Commission D for development affairs Ali
\nWongso said any constructions within a park should be temporary
\nonly.<\/p>\n
\"I stick to my principle that a park should remain a park and
\nthat any decision the government makes should be as fair as
\npossible,\" Ali said. (03)<\/p>",
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