Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
The Pasar Turi market, built in 1905, represents the character of Surabayans -- frank, tough and multi-ethnic.
Indonesian groups encompassing Chinese, Arab, Madurese and Javanese families run their daily businesses here, alongside traders from the eastern Indonesian region.
And not once have stories of conflict between the traders ever been heard.
But the market has had its share of trouble.
In 1978 a fire gutted the entire area; in 1998 the Asian economic crisis affected traders for many years; and most recently, another huge fire in July took hold of many businesses.
""Now, we have to start from scratch, after years of working hard together with traders from various ethnic groups and religions,"" Arief Budiman, 33, who also owns more than 70 kiosks at Pasar Turi, told The Jakarta Post.
As deputy chairman of East Java chapter General Elections Commission (KPUD), Arief started doing business at the market after his father-in-law Achmad Halifi Murtado, 58, set up a used electronic equipment shop there in 1972.
Achmad, known as a hard working man, was in 1973 able to buy four kiosks worth Rp 300 million (approximately US$33,000) each.
However, in 1978, all his kiosks were razed to the ground due to a massive fire that swept through Pasar Turi.
But Achmad refused to give in. He resumed doing business with the remnants he could salvage from the fire and by 1983, Achmad's business was once again thriving.
He bought four more kiosks, set up an air rifle factory in Surabaya and became involved in the textile and garment businesses.
However, in 1998, the economic crisis raised its ugly head.
Achmad was forced to close down his air rifle business due to a rise in the price of bronze, as well as his electronic shop and garment business.
Many traders were distressed, but Achmad remained optimistic and worked even harder.
And his efforts were not futile. His situation improved, and in 2004 he was well and truly back in business.
The family eventually owned more than 70 of 4,759 kiosks in Pasar Turi.
""I was shocked upon learning the market was on fire again, Arief said.
""But, I'm suspicious because a few months before the fire, one of the real estate agents of a new shopping center in Surabaya told traders to move before a fire might take place,"" he said.
Although police have yet to confirm the cause of last month's fire, a number of traders are convinced the market was purposely set on fire, which gutted around 2,700 businesses.
Of the 70 shops Arief and his family owned, 15 were burned down. The family suffered a loss of Rp 5.5 billion in terms of goods and property to the fire.
The remaining undamaged kiosks could not be used pending orders from the government, despite total sales of Rp 70 million per day.
""That's why we demand that we be allowed to resume business in the market.
""We together refused to be relocated because we could lose the market network,"" said Arief.
The Surabaya municipality had promised renovation works would be completed in two months and that traders would be allowed to resume their business.
Market renovation is estimated to cost Rp 200 billion and the municipality is currently making efforts to obtain funds from the central government.
For the time being, traders have been relocated at a 2.4-hectare plot of land owned by PT Kereta Api state railway company not far from Pasar Turi.
They were also given other options to continue their businesses, such as the Darmo Trade Center and Mangga Dua Wonokromo.
However, they still refused to leave and many are prepared to raise the needed funds themselves by contributing each Rp 10 million.
""We want to make good sales for the upcoming Idul Fitri because we could earn three times as much compared to normal days so that we can compensate the loss incurred from the fire,"" Arief said.
