Sutiyoso urges businesses to stay open

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso urged traders on Tuesday to continue business as usual during the May 19 to June 4 campaign period and the June 7 general election, assuring the traders that business centers in the capital would be adequately guarded by security personnel.

Sutiyoso told traders at Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua shopping center in West Jakarta and Senen market in Central Jakarta that keeping businesses open during the political events was necessary to help maintain the city's image.

Closing shops in the major business centers "will confirm the image that the city is unsafe," the governor said.

Traders, however, are not that eager to remain open during the political season, particularly those who were hit during last year's May riots.

A trader at the Senen market, Iwan, told Sutiyoso security officers ran away and let people loot the traders' shops during last year's unrest.

"Who can guarantee that this market here will not experience the same fate again during the upcoming campaign or polling day," he asked.

In response, Sutiyoso told the traders last year's riots were a good lesson for the city's security personnel, and they would be better prepared to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.

The governor, however, reminded the traders that they needed to play a greater role in assisting security personnel.

"You, for example, should establish your own security system to handle the market's internal security. By doing so, the troops can concentrate their work on the outside of the market," he said.

"You also should bravely fight and defend your rights and property. Mobs will fear to face those who dare to face them," the active three-star Army general said.

Sutiyoso again said the city could not guarantee safety.

"What we can do is try to maintain security as best as we can," he said.

He made a similar statement during a gathering with businesspeople at City Hall last week.

Sutiyoso also said that he had asked the central government to give special security attention to 24 main business centers in the city.

The 24 complexes include Mangga Dua, Glodok, Mangga Besar, Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada in West Jakarta; Pasar Baru, Senen and Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta; Kelapa Gading and Sunter Podomoro in North Jakarta; Blok M and Pondok Indah in South Jakarta; and Jatinegara in East Jakarta.

Also included are several traditional markets such as Pasar Minggu, Kebayoran Lama and Cipulir in South Jakarta and Rawamangun market in East Jakarta.

The head of the city's regional economic bureau, Hari Sandjojo, said the business centers were vital to the city.

"Billions of rupiah in business transactions occur in the centers every day," he said.

When asked by the governor if they would keep their businesses open during the campaign and elections, almost all of the traders said they would open their shops under one condition: if the situation was safe.

"I don't know whether I will operate my business every day. One thing for sure is that I'll have to first see progress in the situation," a cloth trader at Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua, Fery, said.

He then changed his mind and vowed to open his business every day after being urged to do so by Sutiyoso.

"Don't worry, troops will guard the area," Sutiyoso said.

About Rp 20 billion in business transactions take place in the Mangga Dua shopping complex every day, according to one trader. (ind)