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