Tanah Abang traders win suit

Tanah Abang traders win suit

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some 3,500 vendors from the Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta
won a legal battle against the city administration and its
business partner on Wednesday, in their fight to stop the
administration from demolishing the market.

A panel of judges led by Frans Liemena said during a session
at the West Jakarta District Court that the city administration
and its business partner, PT Sari Kebon Jeruk Permai, could not
legally demolish four blocks at the market -- blocks B, C, D and
E -- without first consulting the vendors.

The court ordered the administration and PT Sari Kebon Jeruk
Permai, who were not represented at the session, to halt all
preparations for the demolition of the market blocks.

"Because this is a civil case, the absence of the defendants
does not affect the court's decision," Frans said.

The defendants can appeal the decision.

A group of vendors filed the lawsuit after city authorities,
without consulting the traders, announced they were demolishing
the four market blocks.

The vendors also sought help from the House of Representatives
and the City Council in saving the market blocks, but the two
bodies declined to intervene.

Frans said a memorandum of understanding between PT Sari Kebon
Jeruk Permai and city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya on the
reconstruction of Tanah Abang market should be voided.

The court also granted the traders' request to issue an asset
preservation order against land and properties owned by PT Sari
Kebon Jeruk Permai in Taman Kebon Jeruk in Meruya Selatan
subdistrict, and a building owned by the city administration in
Tanah Abang market, known as Block B to E.

The Central Jakarta District Court earlier issued an order
freezing reconstruction work on Tanah Abang market, but withdrew
the order after Governor Sutiyoso objected to the freeze.