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)