Seven named suspects for Tanah Abang riot

JAKARTA (JP): Seven of the eleven traders arrested during Monday's riot at the Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta, were officially declared to be suspects yesterday.

Chief of the City Police Detectives Col. Paimin Aboeamr said the seven traders admitted pelting the seven cars belonging to the public order office and the Tanah Abang district office.

"But the suspects denied burning two of the seven cars. And the remaining four traders only admitted watching their friends damage the office," Paimin said.

He said the police have witnesses who saw the four traders damaging the office.

The riot broke out Monday morning when roadside vendors reacted violently to a mayoralty operation to remove them from the street.

They were angered by rumors that city public order officials had conducted improper raids that led to the death of a friend.

They damaged five public order office cars, burned two other cars and the Tanah Abang district head's office.

The Tanah Abang market, which is known as a national textile hub, was thronged with Idul Fitri shoppers.

Traffic jams gridlocked the market and surrounding areas. Vendors went back to the street in front the market as usual Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. M. Ibrahim said the police would soon question the Public Order Office officials.

"Of course we will question the officials after processing the rioters," Ibrahim said yesterday.

He said his officers arrested two more men Tuesday night. "We also seized two swords from them. We have sent them to the City Police Headquarters."

Ibrahim said the police have yet to find any signs that the riot was engineered. "We are still investigating the case. It is very complicated."

According to Ibrahim, people should not see Tanah Abang only as a place for traders and hoodlums. "There are many prostitutes in the Bongkaran area and small hotels near the Tanah Abang railway station, a bus and public transportation terminal, and so on."

He suggested that the Tanah Abang problem be handled by the City Administration. "As a national and international market, Tanah Abang should be given greater attention. The mayoralty seems to be overwhelmed by the problems relating to it."

Monday's violence was reportedly instigated by disgruntled vendors who could not afford to rent kiosks offered by the market manager, PD Pasar Jaya.

The vendors had complained before the incident that the monthly rental fee of Rp 800,000 (US$330) for one kiosk at Block F was too high for them.

They said they preferred to open businesses on the roadsides as the authorities apparently did not see this as disrupting the traffic.

PD Pasar Jaya denied yesterday that it had charged that much for the kiosks.

Spokesman Lihardin Sipayung said the rental fee for a kiosk at Block F was between Rp 200,000 and Rp 300,000.

"If the traders said they were asked to pay Rp 800,000 for a kiosk, there must have been foul play. The traders who paid the original price from PD Pasar Jaya must have tried to sell the kiosks to other traders at a higher price," Lihardin said.

He said Monday's incident was probably an emotional outpouring by street vendors distressed at failing to get permanent business sites.

He said the vendors could have sought sites in other areas in Central Jakarta as PD Pasar Jaya still had 1,979 vacant shops in 30 markets.

Lihardin cited the Cikini market as having 74 vacant sites, the Jembatan Merah market 101 and the Kebon Jati market 150. (jun)