Taman Puring vendors want their business back
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of traders whose businesses were raided at Taman Puring park lodged a complaint against the city administration at the National Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday.
Led by veteran trader Bambang Herry, the vendors grouped in the Taman Puring II Vendors Association (IPTP) vehemently protested the raid ordered by the South Jakarta administration on Saturday night. Their kiosks were demolished and their merchandise confiscated at the 2,000-square-meter park near the popular Taman Puring flea market.
Bambang said the raid reflected the "arrogance" of the Jakarta administration.
"The officers looted our goods on Saturday, leaving us suffering total losses of some Rp 2 billion (US$270,000)," Bambang told commission members B.N. Marbun and Soegiri.
Amid complaints from local residents about traffic congestion and garbage, the city administration decided last May to return the site to its original designation as a green area.
The authorities allowed traders to set up business at the site in an effort to help them ride out the economic crisis. The city argues that it was on the condition the traders would vacate the site whenever requested by the administration.
But the traders said they ignored the order to leave since negotiations about their status at the site remained inconclusive.
"It was decided then that while the negotiations among councilors, officials and the traders on the matter were still going on, we would be allowed to conduct our business there," Bambang said.
"How could the administration suddenly do this to us?"
The vendors said they would only leave the area if the administration demolished the other kiosks and shops at the flea market, which has been in existence for about 20 years.
The vendors also flatly refused the administration's offer to reopen their businesses on empty land at the nearby Mayestik market, saying they would be unable to survive.
Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, who visited the traders earlier at the site on Wednesday, also asked them to move to Mayestik.
He said their fears of lost business might be unfounded.
"Learn from the experience of traders at Pasar Pagi market (in West Jakarta), who earlier refused to relocate to the site the administration gave them at the Mangga Dua market," he said.
"Now, Mangga Dua is 10 times more popular than Pasar Pagi."
Separately, City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said the council would summon South Jakarta Mayor Abdul Mufti and South Jakarta Police chief Col. Nono Suprijono to obtain details on Saturday's raid.
"We support the administration's raid. But vendors have made reports about abusive treatment during the raid," Edy told reporters on Wednesday.
City spokesman Muhayat said that Governor Sutiyoso instructed Abdul to oversee the confiscated merchandise of the traders and vendors, which is being stored at the administration's warehouse in Cakung, East Jakarta.
"We cannot have South Jakarta mayoralty officers benefiting from the confiscated goods. Abdul must be able to take strict action against any who do," he added. (01/06/05/ylt)