Sutiyoso gets political boost for market demolition

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The 3,500 traders fighting to keep their kiosks at Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, may find themselves very upset, after the city administration's plan to demolish the market received on Monday night more political support.

After the City Council acceded to Governor Sutiyoso's plan last week, the House of Representatives Commission VI for economic and industry affairs expressed their support for the demolition of four blocks -- B, C, D and E -- at the market.

"Commission VI supports the city administration's plan to redevelop Tanah Abang market, which is consistent with Urban Development Guidelines," Commission chairman Ade Komaruddin stated at the conclusion of a hearing between Commission VI and the City Administration late on Monday night.

The hearing result was in sharp contrast to statements made by many legislators, who previously expressed their strong opposition against the demolition plan of the largest textile center in Southeast Asia.

Previously, a special team from the City Council tasked to address the issue also gave in to the wish of Governor Sutiyoso, who has appointed PT Sari Kebon Jeruk Permai to rebuild the market, which was originally constructed in the 1970s.

The Council and the House likely angered the traders further by saying that "the development of Tanah Abang market" should receive an agreement from the traders, particularly regarding the cost of new kiosks for them.

The prices for the newly renovated Block A of the market, range between Rp 20 million (US$2,222) and Rp 225 million per square meter for a 20-year lease, depending on the location of each kiosk.

Tuti, a Tanah Abang trader, said on Monday that the highest price for current kiosks measuring four square meters was Rp 50 million per year.

Meanwhile, chairman of the traders forum, Sofian Masud, could not be reached for comment.

Sutiyoso on Monday gave his personal guarantee that the 3,500 traders at Tanah Abang market would get affordable spaces in the new market. He, however, did not elaborate on his statement, saying only that the fees "should not be too expensive for traders to afford."

The administration has stood by the results of a structural assessment conducted by a team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). That assessment concluded that the four blocks in question were structurally unsafe and in dire need of reinforcement or total renovation.

Initially, the Council supported the traders' demand for a second opinion from University of Indonesia (UI) engineers, but later backed off and encouraged the traders to negotiate with the administration on the kiosk fees instead.

The Central Jakarta District Court had issued an injunction to freeze the work on the market, but later annulled it after Sutiyoso objected to the ruling.