Puring flea market still under dispute

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta mayoralty office is yet to settle a dispute with traders of the popular 27-year-old Taman Puring flea market, following a planned demolition of the shops, an official said on Thursday.

Deputy mayor Thamrin Ekajati said the demolition of the shops would be carried out as soon as his office received approval from Governor Sutiyoso.

"If the governor gives his OK now, we'll remove the vendors from the park right now," he told The Jakarta Post.

Thamrin said the idea to clean up the area came from the public, who repeatedly complained of traffic congestion and a garbage backlog in the area.

He said in his opinion the city administration had shown tolerance to the Taman Puring traders by permitting the vendors to carry on with their enterprises. The market offers a wide range of secondhand items, including electronic goods, sports items, mobile accessories and household appliances.

In response to the public's complaint, the city administration had decided to return the area to its previous function as a green site in the capital, he said.

Thamrin said the vendors had been provided with various options, such as help with moving to 11 other similar markets in the city.

"But it's the traders themselves who make their own decisions."

The traffic congestion usually reaches its peak on weekends when people of all walks of life flock to the market to either buy and sell goods.

The flea market is also known as a popular destination for the sale of stolen goods.

Late last year, the local authority invited victims of the economic crisis the opportunity to open nonpermanent structures on the left side of the market, which was formerly a park.

Many people, including genuine traders, packed the site and have enjoyed running businesses there, complicating matters for the South Jakarta administration office.

According to the initial plan, all shops and kiosks at the market were to be demolished last Thursday.

The plan, however, was canceled following the visit of a delegation of vendors led by Bambang Herry to the city council and City Hall two days earlier.

At the meeting Herry proposed an idea to refurbish the flea market as a tourist market and park, which would preserve the park's function and attract tourists.

In response, head of Commission D for development affairs Ali Wongso said any constructions within a park should be temporary only.

"I stick to my principle that a park should remain a park and that any decision the government makes should be as fair as possible," Ali said. (03)