Traders against market plan

JAKARTA (JP): A protest by hundreds of traders in Petojo Ilir market, Central Jakarta, entered its second day Saturday as traders rejected a plan to move them to another market.

A public order official, Adi, said six were held for questioning at the Gambir police subprecinct.

"Several traders damaged the market fences," he said.

Traders started protesting Friday when they found the city market firm, PD Pasar Jaya, had built fences around their market spaces.

Adi said traders brought banners and yelled at market officials.

He said one of the banners read, "We demand our rights. We are entitled to stay here until 2004."

The protest started at 9 a.m. and ended about 11 a.m.

Adi said sidewalk vendors joined the protest.

On Saturday the Pos Kota daily reported that traders complained the fences hampered business.

The city market firm planned to renovate the market and move the traders to a temporary market. The traders refused because they did not agree to the compensation offered. (ste)