Regulations confuse Ciputat traders

Regulations confuse Ciputat traders

JAKARTA (JP): Conflicting statements made by local authorities
in Ciputat, Tangerang, have confused traders whose kiosks were
ravaged in a fire on Oct. 21.

A total of 724 traders fear that their businesses, which were
destroyed in the fire, will be threatened by the planned
construction of a mall. The traders have not officially been
banned from rebuilding on the site.

"We decided not to put up signs prohibiting rebuilding on the
site," said Yayat Sudradjat, the district secretary, yesterday. A
billboard bearing a picture of a mall and the name of a
developer, PT Betania Sarana, was recently pulled down.

District head M. Natsir earlier said that the billboard was
misleading, that the new market will be a two-story "traditional
market." He said traders whose kiosks were destroyed by the fire
will be given first priority in occupying the stalls to be built
in the market. An official who requested anonymity said the
developer will still be PT Betania.

"We were told that we can trade here for three months pending
an alternative adequate site," said a fish monger, Garni. However
this runs counter to a statement made by officials who say they
will ban rebuilding this week, while fencing off the market is
yet to be done.

However, as of yesterday several kiosk owners were being
allowed to erect make-shift stalls. Land owners say they have not
been consulted on plans for the new building, and also were seen
directing stall constructions.

Several meetings between authorities and traders have not as
yet reached an agreement for an alternative site for the traders,
except part of the crowded bus terminal.

Ownership of the 1.5-hectare gutted site consists of 1,500
square meters under the ownership of the Tangerang regency, 4,000
square meters under private ownership and the rest belongs to the
Cipayung village.

The district officials denied reports that traders operating
in makeshift stalls have to pay Rp 1,200 daily in illegal fees.
Traders told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Rp 500 is paid
without receiving receipts while the rest are legal fees.

"The local police who checked around the market have not found
any irregularities," Yayat said. He added that officials would
only collect fees from traders on the sidewalks as rebuilding is
banned.

However, traders on the market site belonging to the regency
produced receipts of daily fees for sanitation and security
services paid to the Tangerang regency and Ciputat district,
which total Rp 700, which includes a Rp 200 parking fee. An extra
Rp 500, for which traders get no receipt, is also for parking,
traders said.

"This area is usually for parking so since the fire we've paid
for trading here," said Marnih, a vegetable trader. (anr)