Fire victims at Senen market open new kiosks

JAKARTA (JP): Senen market traders whose kiosks were destroyed in a fire last November have begun occupying temporary kiosks built for them by developer PT Jaya Real Property.

Traders yesterday occupied the four-square-meter kiosks built in the marketplace's parking lot. Several were open to customers while other traders were finishing off their shops, adding ceramic tiling to the cement floors.

The new kiosks have rolling doors, gutters and gates at the end of each row of kiosks. Other traders at the temporary sites sold clothing and watches, among other items.

Before the fire on Nov. 23 the traders had occupied block IV and V, managed by Jaya Real Property.

Iwan, a shoe trader, said traders had agreed to pay Rp 75,000 a month while the new market was being built. Construction is expected to take at least 18 months.

The temporary kiosks in the parking lot were part of 786 provided for fire victims. The fire destroyed 1,389 kiosks and traders said the temporary kiosks would not be enough for all of them.

Lihardin Sipayung, spokesman of PD Pasar Jaya, the city-owned market firm, said yesterday he had yet to check whether the remaining 603 kiosks were finally being provided by the city.

Yesterday kiosk owners still waiting for their kiosks to be ready were operating on the sidewalk.

In the meantime several sidewalk vendors have already been accommodated on the parking lot for the month, in line with the city's policy to provide legitimate space for vendors during Ramadhan.

Lihardin said the space for vendors at Senen was provided by PT Jaya, as the city firm is yet to decide which markets will accommodate vendors and at what price.

Yanti, a food vendor, said she paid Rp 500,000 for a two-meter space, excluding daily sanitation and security fees of Rp 2,000, and rent for the tables.

"But it's all official, and the hoodlums don't dare ask money from us," Yanti said.

She said she could earn around Rp 50,000 a day during the fasting month.

Lihardin said 90 percent of the city's markets will provide space for vendors, except markets with no space such as Jatinegara in East Jakarta.

"The fees will depend on evaluations of parking fees lost, and the costs needed for restoring the spaces to parking lots after Ramadhan," Lihardin said. He declined to mention an average figure.

Spaces for vendors will officially open two weeks before Idul Fitri, Jakarta's peak shopping time, he said. (anr)