The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The administration of Central Jakarta municipality is seeking a new market site to relocate vendors of the famous Kwitang traditional book market in Senen district, Central Jakarta.

"We are still reviewing land status of some possible options," the municipality's mayor told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Muhayat promised the new location would not be too far away from the old market, saying the administration realized the traditional market was quite popular.

The traditional book market, established in the 1960s, is well-known as the best place to find used, old and pirated books for cheaper prices. Vendors run their businesses on the sidewalks and parts of the road without paying any rental fees to the city administration.

The administration is planning to relocate more than 300 vendors of the traditional market this year to reduce severe congestion in the area.

Head of Senen district, Hidayatullah, said he had proposed five locations for the relocation plan: two spots on Jl. Prapatan and three others on Jl. Kramat Lontar, Jl. Kramat Raya and Jl. Senen Raya.

He said the 3,000-square-meter site on Jl. Kramat Lontar would be the most suitable.

"Still, the final decision will depend on the mayor," he said.

Vendors and customers had mixed reactions on the eviction plan.

A vendor, Wijang, said he would not resist eviction but demanded the administration prepare the relocation plan carefully.

"I hope the city administration will provide us with a new place so we can continue our businesses," he said.

Another vendor Gunawan hoped that the city administration would find a new location not too far from the old market.

"I hope the new location will be strategic, or else I'm afraid we'll lose our customers," said the 37-year-old man who first heard about the relocation plan from his customers.

Rahman, a vendor who started his book business 20 years ago, expressed disbelief in hearing about the eviction.

"This place is already well-known. I think the government can't be serious about evicting us," said the 58-year-old man.

A customer, Mulyati, from Bekasi, West Java, said she often brought her children to Kwitang book market to buy used school textbooks.

"It will be hard for us to find cheap books if the vendors are really evicted," said the 45-year-old woman Sunday.

Mulyati, who came with her two children, was looking for a book about former president Soeharto.

"I couldn't find the book in the bookstore, so I came here to get the used one," she added.

Another customer, Hardi, 37, said she did not agree with the administration's plan to evict the vendors.

"This market is like a book warehouse offering knowledge to everyone," she said. (dia)