S. Jakarta mayor backs escalators, despite protests

S. Jakarta mayor backs escalators, despite protests

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta Mayor H. Pardjoko threw his weight
behind the decision of city-owned Market Company, PD Pasar Jaya,
to continue the construction of two escalators outside the Blok M
market despite strong objection from small-scale traders in the
marketplace.

Speaking after a meeting of the South Jakarta mayoralty
leadership council here on Tuesday, Pardjoko denied claims that
the development of the escalators would lead to a reduction of
the traders' sales.

"The construction of the escalators instead will help
anticipate increasing competition in the area," said Pardjoko,
referring to a number of marketplaces in the business district.

Two escalators are being built outside the market building,
directly connecting the ground floor to the second and third
floors and occupied by the Matahari department store which covers
some 4,000 square meters of space.

Currently three escalators and two elevators inside the
building already connect the three floors.

Over 200 small-scale traders located on the first floor of the
building are protesting the intended escalators perceiving it as
a threat to their livelihood.

They argue that the development of the escalators would
allow potential customers to go directly to the second and third
floors, thus bypassing the traders on the first floor.

Though the construction itself is being financed by Matahari
department store, ownership will still be in the hands of PD
Pasar Jaya.

In protest, hundreds of traders marched on to City Council
last Friday to demonstrate their protest to the city market
authority's (PD Pasar Jaya) approval of the project.

The traders' anger has also been exhibited in acts of
vandalism on the preliminary construction of the escalators.

Fierce protests have created an extremely tense situation
prompting the construction to be temporarily postponed over the
past few days.

Postponement

"We postponed the construction for a few days to help clear
the air but it doesn't mean the project is shelved," Lihardin
Sipayung, PD Pasar Jaya spokesman, told The Jakarta Post here
yesterday.

Lihardin said the development of the escalators has been
misinterpreted by the traders and it is not meant to threaten
their livelihood.

"The Blok M market is surrounded by modern department stores,
by having the escalators we can add to the attractiveness of the
market by giving the buyers easy access," he explained.

Lihardin further said the postponement would also allow time
for authorities to educate the traders on the benefit of having
escalators.

"These people are like our children, they're not our enemies
so naturally we try to heed and accommodate their concerns," he
said tactfully.

Authorities have tried to calm anxieties by saying the
elevators only go up, thus on the way down shoppers would still
have to pass the traders on the first floor.

Despite Pardjoko's confirmation on the escalators, Lihardin
said that PD Pasar Jaya have yet to receive orders to resume
construction.

A spokesman for the traders has stated that they will bring
the matter to the state administrative court (PTUN) to stop the
construction. (mds)