Ciledug Plaza traders seek relief after building collapse

TANGERANG (JP): Three hundred small-traders of the riot-hit Ciledug Plaza shopping center are seeking soft loans and new sites to rebuild their businesses after losing their kiosks and merchandise when the damaged building collapsed last Wednesday.

The traders, mostly selling food items and inexpensive household goods, said on Friday that they did not have enough money to restart their businesses after suffering losses in the collapse of the building as well as last year's May riots in which mobs looted and set ablaze their businesses.

"We are having difficulties finding capital after last week's collapse of the plaza," Muchtar, an executive of the plaza's traders cooperative unit, said.

He hoped for immediate relief from the government, particularly state-owned companies and the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises.

According to Muchtar, the traders could be temporarily relocated to an empty site in front of Ciledug Plaza.

"But we still have not received a final decision because representatives of the traders, local officials, the Ciledug Plaza developer and the owner of the site are still negotiating the terms," he said.

The site, he added, is owned by noodle maker PT Indofood Sukses Makmur.

"The traders have been asked to be patient," Muchtar said.

Officials in the local administration have ordered Mediarto, an executive of PT Sion Surya, the developer of Ciledug Plaza, to provide as much assistance as possible to the traders, he said.

A number of kiosks have already been erected on the plot of land owned by Indofood.

The kiosks, Muchtar said, are being offered for between Rp 607,500 (for kiosks measuring three meters by 1.5 meters) and Rp 810,000 (for kiosks measuring two meters by three meters).

Those intending to occupy the kiosks are required to pay half of the listed price as a down payment. The remaining amount can be paid in six monthly installments, he added.

It remains unknown who built and manages the kiosks. Over 1,000 mats are also available at the site for use by the traders.

The damaged Ciledug Plaza collapsed on Jan. 20, destroying dozens of temporary kiosks and merchandise on the first floor. No fatalities were reported. (41/jun)