This 2006 photo of Glodok shows a sign forbidding Falun Gong.

Glodok is the shopping center in Jakarta Old Town, Indonesia. It specializes market for electronic consumer goods, such as television, radio, and computer.

History

Early

In Batavia (now Jakarta), Dutch colonialism created commercial opportunities which attracted immigrants from many areas of what is now Indonesia. This economic activity also lured thousands of Chinese people to Java. Swift immigration challenged the city's limited infrastructure and created burdens on the city. Tensions grew as the colonial government tried to restrict Chinese migration through deportations.

Glodok and Jakarta Riots

On 9 October 1740, 5,000 Chinese were massacred and the following year, Chinese inhabitants were ghettoized in Glodok outside the city walls.^[1]. In 1998, Glodok was badly scarred during rioting. Because some "Pribumi" Indonesians accused Chinese Indonesians of hoarding the nation's wealth, and because of the large concentration of Chinese Indonesians residing there, Glodok suffered severe violence during the Jakarta Riots of May 1998.

Chinatown

As shopping center, most of trader in Glodok are Chinese. Glodok is the biggest Chinatown area in Indonesia, and one of big Chinatown in the world. The Chinese came from to Jakarta since 1600s as trader and labour. Most of them from Fujian and Guangzhou, south of China. Centered on Pintu Besar Selatan Road, it has become a commercial hub for the relatively prosperous Chinese community. Assimilation between Chinese and Malay pribumi made a language known as Betawi language. Administratively, the area is a kelurahan under the Taman Sari subdistrict, West Jakarta.

In 2006, prohibitions against Falun Gong and any activities thereof were posted in Glodok.^[2] The government declared it a priority to ensure the safety of the Glodok area against any kind of Falun Gong activities, which it ironically associates with the Chinese state and communism.^[3]

Shopping

Glodok and contiguos of Mangga Dua are one of the biggest shopping centre in southeast Asia. It streches from Pancoran street to Gunung Sahari street and has approximately 500,000 m2 of shopping centres. Beside sale of electronic consumer goods, Glodok is the biggest market for CD and DVD cassettes.

List of Shopping Centre

• Harco Glodok
• Orion Plaza
• Hwi Lindeteves
• Pasar Pagi market

Transportation

There are many bus services provided by TransJakarta, PPD, Mayasari Bakti, and city transport. TransJakarta stop in Glodok bus stop. Visitors can also travel to Glodok by taxi and KRL Jabotabek. It stop at Jakarta Kota Station, 200 metres north of the market. Bicycle or Ojek Sepeda is also common transport in Glodok.

See also

• Chinatowns in Asia

External links

• 'Jakarta's Battered Chinatown Stages a Comeback'

References

1. ↑
2. ↑ Falun Gong in Jakarta - Indonesia Matters
3. ↑ ibid.