Street vendors run amok in Bandung<\/p>\n
BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Hundreds of shops and kiosks on Jl.
\nAhmad Yani were wrecked when thousands of street vendors went on
\na rampage following an altercation with National Discipline
\nMovement officers yesterday.<\/p>\n
The unrest broke out after several street vendors were treated
\nharshly by the officers at about 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
The vendors struck back in anger and soon thousands of people
\njoined in, pelting stones causing severe damage to shops and
\nbuildings along the two-kilometer street. A car was also seen
\nbeing turned over by the angry mob.<\/p>\n
Police and military officers quickly sealed off the area,
\nstopping the unrest from spreading to other parts of the city.
\nArmed with tear gas, clubs and guns, the officers were able to
\nbring the situation under control before dusk.<\/p>\n
The unrest caused a traffic jam at the intersection of one of
\nBandung's main streets that connects the city to the eastern
\ndistrict.<\/p>\n
There were reports of minor injuries but no fatalities.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the melee broke out when officers from the
\nNational Discipline Movement forcibly tried to remove several
\nvendors who were trading on the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
Several carts were pushed over by the officers after vendors
\nrefused to heed the order.<\/p>\n
The vendors argued that they had earlier made an agreement
\nwith local authorities to continue selling from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
\non the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
The number of vendors on the street had increased during
\nRamadhan, the Moslem fasting month.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Kusnadi, commander of the National Discipline
\nMovement in Bandung, admitted that several of his officials had
\n\"overacted\".<\/p>\n
\"I regret the actions of those officers. They should not have
\nacted so roughly, sparking a riot,\" Kusnadi said as quoted by
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
A flower seller on the street, who asked not to be named, was
\nquoted by Antara as saying that the officer had kicked several
\nvendors.<\/p>\n
Bandung Police Chief Col. Erwin Mappaseng said yesterday
\nevening he could not yet estimate the extent of the damage but
\nadmitted that it was widespread.<\/p>\n
\"I can't give you any exact figure but most of the shops
\nsuffered some damage in the front part or had a glass broken,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Erwin said four people were being detained for questioning
\nover the incident.<\/p>\n
He denied suggestions that the melee might have been
\npolitically motivated with the aim of disrupting the People's
\nConsultative Assembly session in Jakarta in March.<\/p>\n
\"This is purely about vendors who were making money by selling
\non the sidewalk and later clashed with the officers,\" Erwin said.<\/p>\n
He said the street had opened again to the public.<\/p>\n
Erwin said he hoped the vendors would continue selling their
\ngoods at the location.<\/p>\n
\"Please sell again, no problem, as long as you keep the
\norder,\" he said. (43\/09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/street-vendors-run-amok-in-bandung-1447893297",
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