Mangga Dua stores remain bustling ahead of polls

Mangga Dua stores remain bustling ahead of polls

JAKARTA (JP): Trading at the Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua and ITC
Mangga Dua shopping centers in North Jakarta remained lively as
of Friday, despite the expectation of violence during campaigning
for the June 7 polls.

According to traders in the two popular shopping centers, they
will continue to run their businesses and ignore the rumors, with
some thanking the presence of military personnel in the area for
their safety.

However, stall holders at the markets, which sell products
ranging from textiles to mobile phones, said they would keep up
with the latest developments in the city's security ahead of the
official campaign period, which begins on May 19.

"We're closely watching any progress in relation to the
upcoming general election," commented Sofia, the owner of a New
Ritan women's clothes store on the third floor of Pasar Pagi
Mangga Dua.

"If clashes among party supporters occur during the
campaigning, we'll immediately close the shops," she added.

Sharing the idea, Handy Linardi, owner of Hidup Baru women's
accessories shop, said media reports of frightened traders
closing shops in the area were groundless.

"I don't believe the reports. We'll keep the shop open," he
said.

Handy insisted that he and his fellow traders owed their
fortitude to the visible presence of uniformed military personnel
at the shopping centers.

The military, he said, have been collectively paid by the
traders for the service. Handy did not give details of the
payment, but admitted to spending Rp 500,000 since June last year
for the service, which begun one month after the unforgettable
May riots.

Ronnie, who runs a shoe shop, added: "During the May riots,
the Mangga Dua shopping centers were not set on fire by the mobs,
while a housing complex about 200 meters away was set ablaze
because it had no security."

Located on Jl. Mangga Dua, the two shopping centers,
surrounded by other shopping and business areas, are not only
popular among Jakartans, but also visitors from other parts of
the country as well as overseas.

But traders said they have witnessed a significant drop in
customers since the bomb blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque on
April 19.

"An average of only five to seven buyers show up everyday,"
Sofia said.

"Should this situation continue until the campaigning, it will
be useless for me to keep my shop open," she said.

Sofia said she would stay home to avoid any danger during the
campaign period and voting day.

"I'm still afraid that last year's riots will occur again,"
she said.

According to PT Oscarindo Utama Gemilang, which manages Pasar
Pagi Mangga Dua, plans have been prepared to protect traders and
their merchandise in the event of violence.

The company's security manager, who is also a senior member of
the presidential guard and asked not to be named, said: "We have
cooperated with North Jakarta Military Command since last year
for the deployment of either uniformed or plain clothes personnel
here."

As of Friday, the shopping centers have been protected by two-
meter-high barbed wire fences placed at the entrances of the
buildings. (01)