Traders ask for compensation

BOGOR (JP): At least 1,200 traders of Pasar Kembang market have asked the management of the Ramayana department store, also located there, to be responsible for the 1996 fire which gutted the market.

Their demand was made on Tuesday as the source of the fire, which damaged the traders' kiosks and merchandise, came from the department store.

Eleven representatives of the traders went to the Bogor Mayoralty Legislative Council to complain directly.

The traders' spokesman, Tjutju Iskandar, said the protest was made after he heard that Ramayana received payment for an insurance claim worth Rp 40 billion (US$5.2 million) for its gutted store.

"However, we, who also suffered from the fire, received no compensation," Tjutju said.

The traders hoped that Ramayana was willing to pay 50 percent of the new kiosks procurement in a bid to help relieve the traders' burden.

The traders also complained that the sale price of the kiosks set by the developer in charge of renovating the market was too high, he said.

PT Propindo Mulya Utama, the developer appointed by the mayoralty, is currently rebuilding the three-story market into a seven-story building. The construction of the new market is almost completed.

The sale price of the kiosks, set between Rp 7.5 million and Rp 15 million per square meter, was considered by the traders as too expensive because it was set without considering losses they bore due to the fire.

Therefore, they demanded the developer to cut the price to between Rp 2 million and Rp 2.5 million per square meter.

The traders further urged the police on Tuesday not to delay the investigation into the fire, which killed at least nine people, Tjutju said.

Djudjih Jayasupena, one of the councilors who received the protesters, promised to deliver the traders' demands to the related parties.

"We will handle the matter seriously as it is our last duty at the council (before the establishment of the new government)," Djudjih said.(24/jun)