Petojo Ilir market traders upset over kiosk demolition

Petojo Ilir market traders upset over kiosk demolition

JAKARTA (JP): Traders from Petojo Ilir market in Central
Jakarta expressed their anger yesterday over the demolition of
their kiosks.

Dozens of workers from the city-owned market operator PD Pasar
Jaya, guarded by 500 police and military officers, started
demolishing the 829 kiosks in the market on Monday.

Masri, a spokesman for the traders, said yesterday that the
traders could do nothing but watch the demolition process.

When the destruction began, Masri and two other traders went
to City Police Headquarters to answer a police summons.

Masri was questioned, as a witness to trader allegations that
PD Pasar Jaya President Albert Napitupulu breached a rent
agreement with traders, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"The police summoned me to prevent me from leading the traders
and stopping the demolition," he said. He has a kiosk on the
second floor of the market.

Dozens of police and military officers were still guarding the
site yesterday.

Some traders were seen moving their belongings to temporary
kiosks built in front of the existing market.

PD Pasar Jaya planned to renovate the two-story market in
cooperation with private developer PT Budi Propertindo. The
renovation project, which is scheduled to start later this year,
is expected to be completed in 2000.

But traders rejected the renovation plan, saying that they
were still entitled to stay at the market until 2004.

The angry traders threatened to go to the City Council, which
had earlier promised that the market would not be torn down
before they reached an agreement with PD Pasar Jaya.

Under the renovation plan, PD Pasar Jaya will likely rent the
new kiosks for 20 years at Rp 5.2 million (US$1,960) per square
meter.

Traders doubted the offer and asked for a written guarantee
that the firm would not increase the price of the kiosks as soon
as construction was completed. But their request was turned down,
Masri said.

The traders have visited many government offices, including
the City Council, Central Jakarta Mayoralty and the National
Commission on Human Rights to complain.

On Aug. 25, the traders went to the City Council and
councilors promised to urge PD Pasar Jaya to give them written
guarantees.

The council also asked PD Pasar Jaya to postpone the
demolition of the market until an agreement between the firm and
the traders was reached. (jun)