Sutiyoso gets political boost for market demolition

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.