Traders reject market renovation

Traders reject market renovation

BOGOR: Hundreds of traders at Citeureup traditional market
staged a protest rally at the Bogor regental administration
office on Tuesday, rejecting the administration's plan to
renovate the market without their consent.

Abdulah, 40, who sells children's clothes at the market said
that the market's developer PT Javana Artha Buana had asked the
traders to pay Rp 9 million (US$1,058) in annual rental fees for
a new kiosk, almost twice of the current Rp 4 million.

"How can we afford that?," Abdulah said.

Taufik Tanjung, deputy chairman of the Citeureup Market
Cooperative (Kopas), added that the traders will also be charged
with an additional Rp 2.5 million to book a four-square meter
kiosk and administrative fees.

An incident marred the demonstration, when the traders mobbed
Supriyono, also a trader, who supported the new rental fees. The
police rescued Supriyono from the amok.

The protesters dispersed themselves at about 2:30 p.m. as they
failed to meet with Bogor deputy regent Albert Pribadi. -- JP