Jakarta riot: Tanah Abang Market shuts temporarily

JAKARTA (ANN): The largest textile market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta has temporarily closed following riots that broke out in its vicinity in the early hours of Wednesday.

“There has been no specific instruction to close [the market], but since the access to the location is blocked, vendors have decided not to open their stalls,” city-owned market operator Pasar Jaya president director Arief Nasrudin said in a written statement after visiting the location on Wednesday.

He has yet to decide when the market will resume operation.

“I have asked the leader of [Tanah Abang] market to engage in communication with local officials. Once conditions are back to normal and vehicle access is possible, we will inform the vendors,” he said.

Based on his observations, Arief said debris from the riot remained at the scene, from the direction of Jl. Fachrudin and Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta with stones and bottles strewn around, which made it difficult for people heading toward Tanah Abang Market and only two-wheeled vehicles could use the road.

Trouble first broke out among election result protesters in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) office on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta late on Tuesday before it spread to Tanah Abang and several other areas on Wednesday.

Following the riot, the management has intensified security at the market.

“There are around 160 security officers deployed to the Blok A and Blok B buildings, with an additional 100 military personnel. There are also 49 and nine security officers deployed in Blok F and Blok G buildings, respectively,” he said.

Arief added that he had yet to receive information about other markets and the firm was currently monitoring the situation.

“We will provide information on other markets if there are any updates,” he said. - The Jakarta Post