Sutiyoso gains more support in market demolition<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The 3,500 traders fighting to keep their kiosks at Tanah Abang
\nmarket in Central Jakarta, may find themselves very upset, after
\nthe city administration's plan to demolish the market received on
\nMonday night more political support.<\/p>\n
After the City Council acceded to Governor Sutiyoso's plan
\nlast week, the House of Representatives Commission VI for
\neconomic and industry affairs expressed their support for the
\ndemolition of four blocks -- B, C, D and E -- at the market.<\/p>\n
\"Commission VI supports the city administration's plan to
\nredevelop Tanah Abang market, which is consistent with Urban
\nDevelopment Guidelines,\" Commission chairman Ade Komaruddin
\nstated at the conclusion of a hearing between Commission VI and
\nthe City Administration late on Monday night.<\/p>\n
The hearing result was in sharp contrast to statements made by
\nmany legislators, who previously expressed their strong
\nopposition against the demolition plan of the largest textile
\ncenter in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Previously, a special team from the City Council tasked to
\naddress the issue also gave in to the wish of Governor Sutiyoso,
\nwho has appointed PT Sari Kebon Jeruk Permai to rebuild the
\nmarket, which was originally constructed in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
The Council and the House likely angered the traders further
\nby saying that \"the development of Tanah Abang market\" should
\nreceive an agreement from the traders, particularly regarding the
\ncost of new kiosks for them.<\/p>\n
The prices for the newly renovated Block A of the market,
\nrange between Rp 20 million (US$2,222) and Rp 225 million per
\nsquare meter for a 20-year lease, depending on the location of
\neach kiosk.<\/p>\n
Tuti, a Tanah Abang trader, said on Monday that the highest
\nprice for current kiosks measuring four square meters was Rp 50
\nmillion per year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the traders forum, Sofian Masud, could
\nnot be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso on Monday gave his personal guarantee that the 3,500
\ntraders at Tanah Abang market would get affordable spaces in the
\nnew market. He, however, did not elaborate on his statement,
\nsaying only that the fees \"should not be too expensive for
\ntraders to afford.\"<\/p>\n
The administration has stood by the results of a structural
\nassessment conducted by a team from the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB). That assessment concluded that the four blocks
\nin question were structurally unsafe and in dire need of
\nreinforcement or total renovation.<\/p>\n
Initially, the Council supported the traders' demand for a
\nsecond opinion from University of Indonesia (UI) engineers, but
\nlater backed off and encouraged the traders to negotiate with the
\nadministration on the kiosk fees instead.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta District Court had issued an injunction to
\nfreeze the work on the market, but later annulled it after
\nSutiyoso objected to the ruling.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-gains-more-support-in-market-demolition-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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