More temporary kiosks needed for fire victims

JAKARTA (JP): Many traders whose kiosks at the Senen shopping center in Central Jakarta were destroyed by fire on Nov. 23 are demanding that they get more than one temporary kiosk, saying they rented more than one kiosk before the disaster.

The fire destroyed 1,389 kiosks, located in block IV and V, which had been rented by 786 traders, while PT Jaya Real Property which manages the blocks plans to provide only 786 temporary kiosks for the traders.

Many of the 786 traders rented two or three kiosks for businesses which were run by relatives, the traders said.

"How can three people with different businesses be grouped in one kiosk?" a trader asked during a meeting between the traders and city officials and representatives of PT Jaya Real Property Saturday.

The company plans to erect the 786 temporary kiosks in the shopping center complex, including in the youth center, the food market, the front parking lot of block IV and on the roof of block III.

Diaz Moreno, PT Jaya's director, said kiosk owners will be given only one temporary business spot because space is very limited.

Both the city administration and PT Jaya have not decided what date the temporary kiosks would be available, but promised the traders would get kiosks by the end of December.

The traders told Diaz they would object if they were charged for the temporary kiosks, on the grounds that they had already paid rent for the gutted kiosks.

Thursandi, an official of the Central Jakarta mayoralty, said traders' objections would be discussed.

Hussein, another trader representing retailers of textile and related products on block IV's first floor, said he wanted the temporary kiosks to be well-ventilated.

"Our floor was the only one with air conditioning in block IV. I am afraid we'll lose our customers if the temporary locations are too uncomfortable," Hussein said.

According to Diaz, a team is evaluating whether the fire- gutted blocks are still technically good for business sites.

He said that if block V did not need reconstruction it would take between three to four months to repair it. Block V may also be used for temporary kiosks.

The rebuilding of block IV will take about 18 months, unless the building can be restored, he said. (02)