Traders report Bekasi mayor

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 10/30/2007 4:41 PM | Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of traders from Pondok Gede market on Monday filed a complaint with the Jakarta Police, accusing Bekasi's Mayor of coercing them into relocating.

The vendors say the mayor's decision ordered them to move to a temporary location which they say is far worse than their former location.

An Oct. 24 announcement, signed by Mayor Akhmad Zurfaih, ordered traders move from Pondok Gede market by Oct. 29 at the latest, with electricity to be turned off with commencement of a revitalization project.

A 54-year-old vendor who refused to be identified said the traders objected because they had the right to be there until 2014.

""We want the city administration to pay us compensation before we move. Officials should respect our rights,"" he said.

The vendor, who has been at Pondok Gede since 1994, said the temporary location was ""like a chicken coop"".

A grocery seller, Suryana, 37, said he also refused to be relocated.

""The government must pay us first,"" he said.

According to the vendors' lawyer, Mudjadid, the city administration will mobilize more than 600 public order officials Tuesday to relocate merchants to the shelter.

""I heard Bekasi police will help them,"" he said.

The Pondok Gede market is located on the border of Bekasi and East Jakarta.

Bekasi's administration has long planned to revitalize the market because it was never fully repaired after a fire incident in 1998.

A spokesperson for the Bekasi administration, Endang Suharyadi, said earlier this month the government would finish relocations by the end of October.

While some merchants have refused to move, Endang said the government would continue with the revitalization project.

""This is for everyone's good. An independent team from the University of Indonesia recommended the market be renovated,"" he said.

Some vendors heard rumors the market would be turned into an expensive market in which they would be unable to afford to lease spaces.

In February, on refusal to be moved, vendors were involved in a near brawl with police and public order officials.

Approximately 275 police officers and 175 public order officials retreated to avoid bloodshed.

Suryana, who has run his business at the market for 13 years, said Monday vendors would fight public order officials wanting to relocate them.

""I won't give up. I've fought them before,"" he said. (08)

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