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.