Traders complain of police intimidation

Traders complain of police intimidation

JAKARTA (JP): Seven people, representing 271 traders from the
Muara Karang market in Pluit, North Jakarta, have complained
about police intimidation.

The traders, who visited the City Council office on Monday,
said many of them had been summoned by the National Police
Headquarters over an anonymous letter sent to the developer of
the new market project.

"We have no idea about the letter. Many of us were questioned
by the police and some of us were forced to sign an agreement
saying that we are willing to be placed on any floor in the new
market," Napis, the spokesman, said.

The traders met with Commission B of the City Council.

The traders said they wondered why the National Police
Headquarters, not the Muara Karang police office, summoned them.

They said they were afraid something would happen to them.

"Not one of us opposes the market renovation plan. We are just
curious why we are being told to occupy the upper floors even
before the renovation project starts," Napis said.

"Why should the police intimidate us? We are not opposing the
plan and we don't know about the letter. We just want fairness in
getting the kiosks," Napis said.

The traders asked the city council to put them on the ground
floor of the new Muara Karang market.

The traders said placing them on upper floors means putting
them out of business because customers will be reluctant to visit
them there.

The Pluit authority earlier guaranteed that the traders would
get priority in purchasing kiosks in the new market at lower
prices.

The secretary of Commission B, Zarkasi Marzuki, told the
traders yesterday to contact the Pluit authority to confirm the
authority's promise. (yns)