Fish agency addresses complaint

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the city fishery agency guaranteed fairness in allocating space in the new North Jakarta fish market to 220 regular fish vendors from the old fish market as soon as possible.

He denied that the agency granted new vendors a larger space than regular auctioneers at the new Muara Angke market.

On Tuesday, around 30 fish vendors filed complaints with the council's Commission B for Economic Affairs, saying the agency had given smaller auction space, lapak, to 264 new Muara Angke fish vendors.

According to regular vendors, new vendors could secure up to 18 lapak while they only received no more than six.

One lapak is equivalent to two square meters. The protesters said around 120 of 220 regular vendors already got an average of six lapak.

Head of the agency, M. Rahardjo, said the agency would prioritize regular vendors from the old market. He said only 114 new vendors obtained auction space. There were 870 lapak available in the new market.

Rahardjo admitted that the success of the Muara Angke fish market had motivated people to hold auctions there and each seller demanded special attention.

He also said several new vendors "dramatized" the problem which initiated the arguments.

"We are going to provide auction space to regular fish vendors soon," Rahardjo said, adding that the agency would distribute auction space by drawing a lottery.

Fish vendors who completed all three requirements -- having a sales permit and Jakarta identification card, as well as paying necessary government fees, would receive auction space. (10)