Tanah Abang's chronic problems 'far from over'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta mayoralty's attempt to clean up
\nTanah Abang still has three hurdles to clear, including the
\npresence of hoodlums who are believed to be the main source of
\nproblems in the area.<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said, during a
\nplenary session yesterday with members of City Council Commission
\nB for economic affairs, that illegal levies were still being
\ncollected, the crackdown on hoodlums was incomplete and illegal
\nvendors continued to ignore a relocation order.<\/p>\n
Mayor Subur was accompanied by Central Jakarta police chief
\nIman Hariyatna and Central Jakarta military chief Let. Col.
\nMoeldoko at the meeting.<\/p>\n
Sidewalk vendors do not have the courage to refuse to pay
\nillegal levies collected by hoodlums and corrupt officials, Subur
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
And collections continue despite the mayoralty's stern
\nmeasures aimed at restoring order in Tanah Abang, he said.<\/p>\n
The mayoralty's public order officers -- with the support of
\nspecial teams from Jakarta Police and Jakarta Military Command --
\nlaunched a major operation against hoodlums, gambling and
\nprostitution last month.<\/p>\n
At least 67 alleged hoodlums were rounded up and are being
\nforced to participate in a rehabilitation program at Ragunan
\nSports Dormitory in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
And the mayoralty has demolished buildings which were believed
\nto be the home bases of hoodlums<\/p>\n
\"So far, the municipality has spent some Rp 137 million for
\nthe operation in Tanah Abang,\" Djafar Badjeber, the head of
\nCommission B for economic affairs, said.<\/p>\n
Despite the crackdown, the mayoralty still has to deal with
\nthe remaining hoodlums in Tanah Abang, Subur said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the relocation of vendors to a 4,000-square-
\nmeter plot in Kebon Jati area had proved difficult because most
\nrefuse to move from their semi-permanent kiosks in the alleys of
\nKebon Jati market.<\/p>\n
Subur said that the revamping of Tanah Abang includes the
\ndemolition of slums in the Bongkaran red-light district and along
\nthe riverbanks.<\/p>\n
\"The mayoralty has thus far managed to clear 22 hectares of
\nthe 41-hectare plot designated for the cleanup.\"<\/p>\n
In the meeting, Djafar praised the municipality's efforts,
\nespecially the determination of Mayor Subur to solve Tanah
\nAbang's problems once and for all.<\/p>\n
\"As city councilors, we will strongly support your efforts and
\nI think, if the plan works, it will be the first time order has
\nbeen restored to Tanah Abang after years of tension,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said that he wants the hoodlums to learn new
\nskills so they can become worthwhile citizens.<\/p>\n
\"It's useless if they just start operating as hoodlums again.
\nI want them to be workers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djafar, who has been monitoring the developments in Tanah
\nAbang, said the best way to deal with the area was to relocate
\nthose stationed in Tanah Abang in a bid to stamp out collusion
\nwith hoodlums.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the officials have been stationed there for more than
\n10 years. That is a source of collusion and corruption. The
\nlonger they stay, the greater the opportunities for
\nmanipulation.\"<\/p>\n
He said chaos in the market could be attributed to some
\nofficials who sell certain plots in the area to vendors for the
\nhighest bid.<\/p>\n
\"A kiosk, with a floor space of one square meter, for example,
\nused to be sold for between Rp 1 million and Rp 3 million. That's
\ncrazy. These kind of practices must be stopped.\" (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanah-abangs-chronic-problems-far-from-over-1447893297",
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