Let us move back: Senen bag vendors

JAKARTA (JP): Fifty bag traders from Senen market in Central Jakarta who were recently moved to the market's second floor have asked the city to let them temporarily move back to the parking lot.

The traders flocked to City Hall Monday to tell the city that the lack of a sound staircase to the second floor was affecting their business badly because shoppers were reluctant to climb the rickety temporary stairs to look at their goods.

"Give us a chance to trade in the market's parking lot at least until Idul Fitri holiday," said the traders' spokesman, Pahala Manurung, referring to the end of the Ramadhan fasting month which might fall at the end of January.

According to Manurung, the traders' sales in the days before Christmas, which falls tomorrow, have plunged drastically compared to other Christmases and before they were moved.

They hoped to earn more before the Idul Fitri holiday, he said.

The traders were moved to the market's second floor by the local mayoralty three weeks ago in an attempt to clean up the roadside vendors in the area so as not to ruin the city's image.

Unfortunately, the local authorities had yet to complete the permanent stairs, and buyers were refusing to climb to the second story, said Manurung.

Before the move, he said, the traders could earn an average daily profit of Rp 10,000 (US$2).

"But now it is difficult even to get Rp 1,500 per day," he said.

The traders delivered their requests Monday to the city's Social Disturbance Control Center at City Hall.

One of the center's senior officers, Raya Siahaan, promised to convey their request to the governor.

Central Jakarta Deputy Mayor Tursandi Alwi said that the permanent stairs would be completed today. (ind)