Governor defends raid on Taman Puring kiosks

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Monday that the city administration would stick to its decision to eliminate kiosks from the park at Taman Puring flea market in South Jakarta.

"The (kiosks at) Taman Puring flea market are just a temporary site for vendors. Therefore, we will continue to uphold public order at the site," he said at City Hall in response to protests by traders who were upset after South Jakarta authorities demolished the kiosks on Saturday.

He appealed to city residents to understand the administration's proceeding against the traders. He said that he strongly supported the action of the South Jakarta mayoralty.

He also added that the action was meant to keep order and had nothing to do with arrogance or oppression.

He also said that the city needed informal economic activities, but not without limitations.

"The vendors still have to follow city regulations in order to ensure public order and to avoid public disorder," the governor added.

Supporting the governor's remarks, South Jakarta Mayor Abdul Mufti said separately that he would not support issuing any permits for flea market vendors.

"It's not my jurisdiction to issue such permits. It's the governor who has the authority to do so. My responsibility is to secure the city's assets, including Taman Puring," he told representatives of the vendors' delegation, who came to his office to question Saturday's raid.

The vendors said the raid was carried out without any notification to the traders. But Sutiyoso said his administration repeatedly told them to leave the site immediately as they were no longer allowed to run a business there.

With the help of police and military personnel, public order officials from the South Jakarta mayoralty office raided the kiosks in the park area of Taman Puring flea market on Saturday evening.

The traders, who had earlier closed their kiosks to celebrate Idul Fitri, said the personnel also confiscated some of their goods.

"We had to do it on the holidays to avoid clashes or other consequences with the vendors," Mufti said.

History

Taman Puring has been a popular flea market since 1972. The flea market sells used merchandise, such as home appliances and electronics. It is alleged to sell stolen goods as well.

The city administration invited people affected by the economic crisis to do business in the nearby park on a temporary basis in 1998. Besides Taman Puring park, there are 48 other locations used for similar activities throughout the city.

Mufti said the mayoralty prepared alternative locations for the vendors at Pondok Indah and Cipete markets, in addition to Taman Puring market.

"I've also prepared additional public transportation routes to the markets to attract more customers," he added.

Vendors said they did not receive any warnings prior to the raid.

"If they had warned us before, we could have saved our belongings," said vendor Fauzi Firdaus.

Head of South Jakarta Park Office Sri Budisetiati said that the mayoralty sent at least three warning letters to the vendors, asking them to dismantle their kiosks soon.

"They simply ignored our letters," she was quoted by Kompas as saying.

Mufti added that he had invited the vendors prior to Saturday's operation, "but no one showed up".

The vendors alleged city public order officials plundered their goods. They also alleged that officers from the elite Mobile Police Brigade and the city military command's riot troops were involved in the lootings.

"They took my goods at gunpoint and prevented me from saving my merchandise," said another vendor, Nawawi.

All the confiscated goods were reportedly stored at the city warehouse in Cakung, East Jakarta.

Commenting on the reports, Mufti said that he needed lists from vendors stating their missing merchandise. (05)