Petak Sembilan market finally demolished

JAKARTA (JP): A demolition squad has torn down the Petak Sembilan market in the west of the city, putting an end to the traders' two-months of inner turmoil.

A demolition order was issued by the West Jakarta mayor on March 28. No other warnings were issued, traders told The Jakarta Post.

A total of 400 merchants who traded on the Petak Sembilan road, earning Rp 200,000 to Rp 2 million a day, were affected. The 600-meter road had always been virtually blocked to traffic.

Most merchants traded there for 30 years.

Ibrahim Lakoni, deputy district head of Taman Sari, said that the demolition was conducted to ease traffic in the area.

"In addition to easing the traffic, the government is planning to restore historical sites in this area," Ibrahim said.

Following the mayor's notice, traders feared the demolition would be carried out last month. The government provided alternative sites for the traders in Sawah Besar, Jembatan Besi and Glodok but they refused to move.

The traders' objection was that they would be split up and sent to different locations whereas they wanted to stick together and give customers easy access to their variety of goods.

"We did not expect this to happen at all. Besides, past attempts to demolish the market were always held on a Wednesday," a vendor said, submissiveness written all over his face.

Both the traders and the government claimed legality over the site of the market. Traders said they had the right to sell their goods there since they regularly paid fees to certain local authorities. But government officials said their leases had expired two years ago.

Some traders have complained about the exorbitant rentals demanded by certain government officials at the market.

"Where would we get Rp 25 million from for a two by two meter kiosk?" Pardi, a trader, said referring to the asking price for a 10-year lease.

Thamrin, a spokesman of the traders, said that government officers were still collecting daily fees from the traders.

"First, being common people and easily oppressed, we will soon be tenants of this country," Thamrin added in exasperation.

Ibrahim, however, denied accusations that daily fees have been collected from traders throughout the years.

Most traders do not know where to go to now.

A woman, desperate in her attempt to save her stock of cosmetics and perfume, was searching through the remnants of her kiosk for her box of money which she said contained at least Rp 2 million. (14)