Jakarta administration vs Tanah Abang traders

Jakarta administration vs Tanah Abang traders

Jakarta's city administration has become involved in a
"fighting" with traders from the Tanah Abang market after
revealing a plan to renovate Southeast Asia's biggest textile
market. The traders are worried that after the renovation of the
30-year-old market, they will no longer be able to lease stalls
there. They recently staged a protest against the proposed
renovation in front of the governor's office and the city
legislative council.

The city administration insists that the Tanah Abang market,
built in 1974 and gutted by fire in 2003, needs renovation.

The market has been beset by thieves, traffic congestion, and
disorder these past few years. People have seemed to accept the
situation in the market. The government has finally decided to
act in light of the bad situation it has allowed to develop for
years.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso did have the courage to remove
the street vendors around the market. The vendors, however,
returned during the Idul Fitri festivities when most traders go
on holiday, and have not left since.

The Tanah Abang market has become a symbol of extraordinary
anarchy due to a prolonged conspiracy between corrupt bureaucrats
and recalcitrant traders. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta