Street brawls affect business in Matraman<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Continuous clashes between neighboring residents
\nof Kebon Manggis and Palmeriam in the Matraman district of East
\nJakarta have badly affected business in the area.<\/p>\n
Interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post on Monday, several
\noffices and owners of hotels, car showrooms, a bookstore and a
\npharmacy said the fate of their business was unknown.<\/p>\n
Some have planned to leave the area and run their business in
\na safer place.<\/p>\n
They said the area was strategic for their business, but since
\nfights between the two neighborhoods had significantly increased,
\nparticularly since April this year, businessmen could not find
\nbuyers for their property.<\/p>\n
\"Even insurance companies refuse to insure us here,\" said Iwan
\nAminuddin, a manager of timber company PT Multi Wahana Wijaya,
\nwhich has been set on fire three times during the clashes.<\/p>\n
Iwan and other businessmen in the area said they were not only
\nsuffering financial losses but also had to dismiss employees. In
\ntotal, they estimated that the brawls had caused unemployment
\namong hundreds of people.<\/p>\n
David Widjaja, the manager of Lautan Berlian in the Mitsubishi
\nMotors showroom, said the building was gutted by fire during a
\nrecent Matraman clash, leaving only the workshop in operation.<\/p>\n
The showroom was still under renovation on Monday.<\/p>\n
The number of customers bringing their cars in for servicing
\nat the workshop remained low due to tension and the
\nunpredictability of the area.<\/p>\n
The workshop has so far serviced 15 cars this month, compared
\nto 18 in May and 10 the previous month, David said.<\/p>\n
The brawls, which have taken place between the two warring
\nneighborhoods since the 70s, involve adults, teenagers and
\nchildren who usually use sharp weapons, air rifles, molotov
\ncocktails and bricks to attack one another. In most cases, the
\nclashes are sparked by small disputes between teenagers from the
\ntwo areas.<\/p>\n
Iwan, whose office was located at the top of Jl. Palmeriam,
\ntemporarily moved to another location in April.<\/p>\n
Early this month, he and his staff returned to the renovated
\nbuilding but last week's brawls revived their skepticism.<\/p>\n
\"We are planning to move permanently to another location in a
\nshort time,\" said Iwan.<\/p>\n
The company has spent some Rp 60 million to renovate its
\noffice and another Rp 30 million for equipment. All the files
\nwere lost in the fire, he said.<\/p>\n
Iwan said frightened visitors who came to the office often
\nabruptly canceled transactions.<\/p>\n
\"We can't even monitor our operation in Sorong (Irian Jaya) by
\nusing the radio to communicate since we often close the office
\nwhen the mob starts fighting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Those in the tourism business, such as hotels and a bus
\nticketing agent, said they regretted their plunging income.<\/p>\n
\"Our rooms used to be fully booked on the weekends, but since
\nthe recent brawls, the occupancy rate has dropped 60 percent,\"
\nsaid Bambang Prasetyabudi, a member of the front office staff at
\nMega Matra Hotel.<\/p>\n
Harini, the owner of the nearby Continental, a bus ticketing
\nagent, said business had dropped drastically. The remaining few
\ncustomers ask the agent to deliver the tickets to their
\nresidences, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We sold about 175 tickets in March, but we have only booked
\nabout 25 tickets so far this month,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kimia Farma pharmacy has also suffered losses. Most customers,
\nwho come from Petamburan Hospital, Pasar Rebo Hospital and Polri
\nHospital of East Jakarta, have found another way to purchase
\ndrugs.<\/p>\n
Most businessmen regretted the law enforcers who they said did
\nnot take stiff measures against the brawling residents.<\/p>\n
Filise Kunaryanto, a staff member of Gramedia bookstore, said
\nlaw enforcers always arrived late and failed to settle the
\ndispute.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the authorities deploy a greater number of
\nsecurity personnel to face the mobs, which were becoming more
\nadept at fighting. (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/street-brawls-affect-business-in-matraman-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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