Vendors from riot-ravaged markets to be relocated<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vendors of traditional markets which were ruined
\nduring last week's massive riots would be relocated quickly to
\nother places, said an official of the city-owned traditional
\nmarket management agency.<\/p>\n
Lihardin Sipayung, the agency's spokesman, said over the
\nweekend that his office was still calculating losses and the
\nnumber of vendors who needed to be relocated.<\/p>\n
He said the tally was required to help prepare the relocation
\nprogram and the funds to be used to support the program.<\/p>\n
\"But it's not an easy job to get the exact amount of losses or
\nthe number of affected vendors because most of them did not
\nreport their losses to the agency,\" said Lihardin.<\/p>\n
The relocation funds will be taken from the agency's budget
\nand the city's office for market maintenance, he said, declining
\nto give details on the amount.<\/p>\n
He said it was likely the relocation would start today.<\/p>\n
\"We have to implement the relocation program as quickly as
\npossibly because it is important to accelerate trade activities.
\nBesides, the governor has told us not to delay the handling of
\nthe affected vendors,\" he said without identifying vendors from
\nwhich markets would get priority.<\/p>\n
Official data shows that at least 13 traditional markets were
\nattacked or destroyed during the four days of violent riots,
\nwhich erupted following the death of four Trisakti University
\nstudents on May 12.<\/p>\n
Lihardin said only three out of the 13 markets were totally
\ndestroyed. They were Palmerah market, Central Jakarta, Cipete
\nmarket, South Jakarta, and Glodok market, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Vendors from these three markets would be relocated to other
\nareas or markets under the approval of the local mayor, he said.<\/p>\n
Lihardin said the vendors could also be relocated to nearby
\nmarkets mainly in line with the type of items they sold and also
\nthe availability of space in other markets.<\/p>\n
Hendra, a vendor of the Palmerah market, said early last week
\nthat it was not easy for vendors like him who sold automotive
\nspare parts to restart a business at another location.<\/p>\n
\"We lost just about everything in the fire. Getting a new
\nplace or new clients is one thing. But getting the money to
\nfinance the business from square one is something else,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lihardin declined to say whether it would be possible for the
\nvendors to get financial help from the administration to restart
\ntheir businesses.<\/p>\n
He only said that it was hoped that the relocation would help
\nboost market activities and, if possible, bring the prices down a
\nbit as well.<\/p>\n
Price development<\/p>\n
Warti, a vegetable vendor at Mayestik market, South Jakarta,
\nwhich was less affected by the riots, said many vendors had
\nintentionally raised prices because a stock shortages, especially
\nfresh vegetables and meat.<\/p>\n
The price of beef during the third week of May, for example,
\nincreased to between Rp 15,000 and Rp 19,000 per kilo from Rp
\n11,000 and Rp 18,000 per kilo previously.<\/p>\n
The prices of vegetables have oscillated almost from day to
\nday. At the Kramat Jati central market, East Jakarta, carrot
\nprices surged by about 52 percent to Rp 2,500 per kilo on Friday
\nfrom only Rp 1,200 per kilo on Thursday, red chili by 20 percent
\nto Rp 5,000 per kilo from Rp 4,000 per kilo and leek by 30
\npercent to Rp 5,000 per kilo from Rp 3,500 per kilo during the
\nsame period.<\/p>\n
Rice prices were less fluctuating, staying at between Rp 1,500
\nand Rp 3,750 per kilo.<\/p>\n
Warti said many suppliers could not deliver their products to
\nJakarta because they were afraid of becoming victims in the
\nmassive riots. Distributors and vendors here were also worried
\nabout the same thing.<\/p>\n
\"We could not get fresh and sufficient supplies until late
\nlast week when the government started taking action against the
\nrioters,\" said Warti. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vendors-from-riot-ravaged-markets-to-be-relocated-1447893297",
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