Cirebon, West Java – Traditional market traders, backed by members of the Cirebon municipal council, have urged the municipality administration to stop issuing building licenses for minimarts and supermarkets due to their already extensive presence in the city.

The unrestrained construction of supermarkets in Cirebon has forced traditional traders out of business, they said.

Speaker of Commission C on development affairs Tjipto said Wednesday the administration had not shown an intention to protect traditional market traders.

"The administration has not been serious in protecting traditional market traders. They have been pushed out by the presence of supermarkets and mini markets, which are more financially sound," said Tjipto.

He said the uncontrolled issuance of building licenses for supermarkets and mini markets by the administration indicated it had not taken the side of small-scale traditional traders.

"Many kiosks in traditional markets are now empty because their owners have gone out of business. They are small-time traders who aren't able to compete with supermarkets that are financially strong," said Tjipto.