Sutiyoso urges businesses to stay open

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)