Condemning illegal kiosks

The condemning of the traders' kiosks at Taman Puring, South Jakarta by the Jakarta Administration is clearly a repressive action reminding us of the New Order regime.

It is true that without a good spatial arrangement and adequate supervision, the burgeoning of kiosks in greenbelt areas can get out of control and disturb public order. Many traders occupy whole sidewalks, making it impossible for pedestrians to use the facility earmarked for them. Any action to put order into the situation is only sporadically done and the city administration never cares to think about the essence of the problem, so the problem continues to recur.

In consideration of the economic crisis, the city administration should consider that the emergence of kiosks of small traders at Taman Puring is the result of a need, so condemning the kiosks at Taman Puring will only lead to the emergence of other kiosks at other places. It would be wiser on the part of the city administration to give some space to small traders at Taman Puring, providing a better spatial arrangement and exercising strict supervision in a continuous way so that the park's function as a greenbelt and a city garden is not hampered.

I am convinced that the number of visitors to Taman Puring has increased since the existence of the kiosks. The city administration should make a breakthrough in such a way that the kiosks of the small traders step up the function of Taman Puring as a city garden.

It is regrettable that the councilors of the city administration (DPRD DKI) have not studied the problem of Taman Puring in depth and only superficially demand that the city gardens that have changed their function be rearranged. They show an insensitiveness toward the problems of the urban population and a lack of creativity.

It is hoped that Jakarta governor Sutiyoso will rethink his policy and Mayor Abdul Mufti will not foreclose the possibility to review his decisions prohibiting Taman Puring as a place for trading.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Jakarta