Palmerah market to resume operation

JAKARTA (JP): The city-owned Palmerah market, which was burned down in massive riots last year, will resume operations in September, an official said.

He said the renovation of the market, started in February, is expected to be completed by the end of September.

"As soon as the renovation of the market is completed, the market will resume its operations," Mawardi Siregar, director of the Palmerah market, said at his office on Monday.

Angry mobs burned and looted at least 13 traditional markets throughout Jakarta in the May riots last year, leaving 3,384 kiosks and stores severely damaged.

The markets to have already resumed operations are Cempaka Putih and Cipete markets.

Mawardi said all tenants whose kiosks were gutted by fire during last year's riots would be subject to renovation charges of between Rp 1.8 million to Rp 3.5 million per square meter, depending on the size of the kiosks.

"The Ministry of Finance loaned PD Pasar Jaya Rp 5 billion to renovate the Palmerah market, and the merchants should bear the responsibility to repay the loan in six years," said Mawardi.

He said all 700 tenants were ready to restart their businesses in the market.

Isnah, a kiosk owner on the ground floor of the market, said she had spent a lot of money renovating her kiosk on her own, prior to the official renovation by the government-appointed developer.

In Palmerah market, merchants sell a wide range of goods, including electronic equipment, clothing, vegetables, and even car spare parts.

The four-story market building has a capacity of 1,029 kiosks and stores and is equipped with a parking lot with space for 200 cars and 400 motorcycles.

The movie theater and karaoke club do not exist anymore at the market. (asa)