Kemang businesses react angrily to city's closure plan

Kemang businesses react angrily to city's closure plan

JAKARTA (JP): The city's plan to close 180 businesses in
Kemang for permit violations is "unfair" and should be
reconsidered, according to those affected by the decision.

Local businesspeople said yesterday that they were "victims"
and the city should be "more flexible" in its approach to land
use in Kemang.

When interviewed by The Jakarta Post, they rejected the
administration's claim that they had ignored complaints from
religious leaders in Kemang.

The manager of Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant, Ali Jusmono, said
he respected the administration's decision to implement the city
plan but it should be applied evenly to all areas in Jakarta, not
just Kemang.

In other parts of Jakarta the administration has been more
amenable and rezoned housing areas for commercial purposes, he
said.

"I hope that the city will be more flexible when it applies
the city plan in Kemang."

Ali said that closing down businesses would make it difficult
for the owners to repay their bank loans and force them to sack
staff.

"The administration should consider how businesspeople can be
responsible if they have bank loans. And for the employees, it's
more difficult now to get a job."

The decision to close the 180 businesses -- not all of which
are cafes, as reported earlier -- was announced Monday by Deputy
Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi.

The decision affects bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries,
travel agents, photocopy centers, pharmacies, beauty salons, car
service centers, a cassette rental center, an optical shop and a
gas station.

The director of Articia, which specializes in interior design,
Atik Yunaeni, said businesspeople in Kemang were the "victims" of
the decision.

She said some business, such as Articia, had been given
commercial permits but were now being told it was invalid.

"Why were we given the permit (to do business) when the area
is a residential site?

"If the city is to be consistent, many areas other than Kemang
will have to be reverted to their original use under the city
plan."

She said that if the administration enforced the closures,
there should be a transition period.

"Don't enforce the policy immediately."

The supervisor of a nearby cafe, who wanted to remain
anonymous, gave a similar response.

"Why make a fuss now when we are doing business and not when
we applied for the permit."

He said the presence of businesses benefited locals through
property rentals and employment.

"The negative impact of the closures will be felt not only by
the owners of businesses."

The general manager of Galeri TC Kafe and Bar, Brenda Djorghi,
said she could do nothing but wait and see if the decision is
implemented.

"We hope the city administration will change its mind because
our presence does benefit the administration," she said, "We pay
lots of taxes for the cafe."

The supervisor of Coterie Restaurant, Freddy C. Kotambunan,
said he also hoped the administration would reconsider the
closures.

He said that many people working in Kemang relied on the
restaurants for their meals.

"The closure will force them to travel much further afield for
their meals."

Several businesspeople rejected Kahfi's statement that
religious leaders had complained that the businesses were too
close to centers of worship, interfered with religious activities
and the businesses had ignored complaints.

Brenda Djorghi of Galeri TC said that if there had been
protests from locals then the administration should not have
granted social disturbance permits.

"No-one has protested," she said. "To run a business we have
to get approval from the neighborhood."

Ali Jusmono of Chi-Chi's said that traffic congestion -- which
Kahfi blamed on the businesses -- could be solved if
businesspeople were encouraged to construct parking lots.

"This would enable green areas to be established in front of
buildings where people currently park."

However, Freddy from Coterie and Brenda both denied that the
businesses had created traffic congestion.

"The congestion is caused by the irregularity of the traffic
system here. The T-junctions at the ends of the street are not
managed well by the police," Brenda said. (ind)