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