Monas street vendors oppose relocation plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Street vendors operating around Monas (the
\nNational Monument) in Central Jakarta are opposed to the city
\nadministration's plan to remove them to a nearby location because
\nit will lead to a drop in their daily income.<\/p>\n
The vendors have rejected the proposed move because after only
\nfive days in the new location, the former Taman Ria recreational
\npark, they recorded a sharp drop in the number of customers. They
\nsaid they would face bankruptcy if they agreed to the plan.<\/p>\n
Last week's relocation fell under the auspices of the Monas
\nbeautification project, an initiative aimed at sprucing up the
\nnational monument site and surrounding parkland.<\/p>\n
The vendors were pooled in what used to be the grounds of
\nTaman Ria in the southern part of the Monas area.<\/p>\n
Dulmonit, 32, a fried rice vendor, complained that on one
\nparticularly bad day he did not get a single customer. \"Not a
\nsingle person came here to buy my food,\" he complained.<\/p>\n
\"If this goes on, I'm afraid I will no longer be able to earn
\na living and support my family,\" he said, adding that he used to
\nearn at least Rp 40,000 per day before the relocation.<\/p>\n
Similar complaints were voiced by other vendors.<\/p>\n
Dunor, 25, a gado-gado (mixed vegetables in peanut sauce)
\nvendor, said the administration should have taken their fate into
\naccount when drawing up the plans, and should now rethink its
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
According to city data, approximately 300 vendors operate
\naround Monas during weekdays, a number which swells to 500 on
\nweekends and holidays.<\/p>\n
Another vendor, Gianto, 25, said he understood why the
\nadministration had made the decision, but said: \"Now is not the
\nright time because we are facing difficulties due to the high
\ncost of basic foodstuffs.\"<\/p>\n
Gianto said vendors had no choice but to increase their
\nprices, despite the fact that they lost customers by doing so.<\/p>\n
\"I don't understand why the administration, in the middle of
\nour difficulties, decided to relocate us to an area which is not
\npopular with visitors to Monas,\" the fried rice vendor said.<\/p>\n
Dulmonit said that if the purpose of the relocation was to
\nmake the area cleaner, vendors could instead have been instructed
\nto provide litter bins.<\/p>\n
\"Vendors could also have been fined if they failed to maintain
\ngeneral cleanliness. Relocation is not the answer,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said
\nyesterday he understood the vendor's difficulties and that they
\nwould be allowed to trade outside the Taman Ria area on public
\nholidays.<\/p>\n
\"I have also urged the administration to improve facilities in
\nthe area, including street lighting.<\/p>\n
\"I told the governor that the area is too dark and would
\ntherefore not attract visitors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Andi said the mayoralty had organized music performances every
\nSaturday night near the park to attract visitors. \"We hope this
\nactivity will help raise vendors' income,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The maiden performance was held last week, the mayor added.
\n(ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/monas-street-vendors-oppose-relocation-plan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}