Vendors clash with officers at Senen market<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of sidewalk vendors operating in Senen
\nmarket in Central Jakarta clashed yesterday with public order
\nofficers, who were assigned to reorganize the market.<\/p>\n
The vendors refused to comply with an order that they relocate
\nto the fourth floor of the market building. They insisted on
\nstaying on the first floor, saying no buyers would go to the
\nfourth floor.<\/p>\n
Tension increased when the vendors stopped officers from
\nrelocating their merchandise about 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
About 50 officers from the Central Jakarta Police precinct and
\nmilitary district were deployed to settle the dispute.<\/p>\n
The precinct's deputy chief, Maj. Ronny Syompie, who also went
\nto the market to calm down angry vendors, invited them to talk
\nwith him. However, the head of Senen market, Ramelan, was absent.<\/p>\n
Ronny said the operation was conducted yesterday in accordance
\nwith the governor's order that Senen market be put in order.<\/p>\n
\"By moving to the fourth floor, you can work safely and your
\nbuyers can shop comfortably as well, no longer on the crowded
\nsidewalk like this,\" he told vendors.<\/p>\n
He suggested they follow the order as the municipality has
\nprepared a plan to improve the market's chaotic state.<\/p>\n
Heril Astrapradja, secretary of the Senen district office,
\nsaid that his office had notified vendors of the plan and urged
\nthem to move off the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
But the vendors insisted on staying put until after Idul
\nFitri, when they agreed to relocate.<\/p>\n
The clean-up operation in Senen started Saturday when the
\nmunicipality deployed 277 men to reorganize the market's sidewalk
\nvendors.<\/p>\n
The operation was jointly conducted by the Central Jakarta
\nmayoralty's public order officers, Central Jakarta military
\ndistrict and Central Jakarta Police precinct.<\/p>\n
During Saturday's operation, 15 rusty trucks were removed and
\nsome of the sidewalk vendors' carts, umbrellas and scales were
\nconfiscated.<\/p>\n
The team also listed 42 vendors who will be moved from the
\nsidewalk to the fourth floor.<\/p>\n
\"We've given them enough time and the municipality has built
\nkiosks on the fourth floor to accommodate them,\" Heril said.<\/p>\n
Some vendors admitted that kiosks had been bought but never
\nused and some were converted to prostitution houses.<\/p>\n
Lian Hutapea, one of the vendors, said that he was offered a
\none meter by one and a half meter kiosk for Rp 1 million (US$200)
\nby a market staffer.<\/p>\n
\"Every vendor here knows who he is, just ask them,\" he said
\nwithout naming the employee.<\/p>\n
H. Mangunsong, a bag seller who has been working at Senen
\nmarket for the last 15 years, said he objected to the
\nmunicipality's cleanup.<\/p>\n
They should be more humane when dealing with the vendors, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We're not animals ... we can talk and compromise, so please
\nsend us a letter beforehand and don't just come and confiscate
\nour merchandise.\"<\/p>\n
On Dec. 12 the Christian vendors held a night prayer on the
\nfirst floor of the market and prayed for success and wealth,
\nMangunsong said. But it ended up the other way around the next
\nmorning, he said.<\/p>\n
\"They (the officers) don't know how we feel when they just
\nkick around our merchandise like it is garbage.\"<\/p>\n
The vendors said they were willing to move, in principle, but
\nthey demanded a new stairway be built to the fourth floor so
\nbuyers could more easily enter and leave.<\/p>\n
\"We understand that the main stairway at the front of the
\nmarket is no longer enough because people like to sit down and
\nchat there for hours,\" Heril said, promising that he would convey
\nthe vendors' wish to his boss. (04)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vendors-clash-with-officers-at-senen-market-1447893297",
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