150 traders protest raid

JAKARTA (JP): At least 150 street vendors operating along Jl. Sudirman thoroughfare and its access Jl. Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta, gathered at the City Council on Monday to protest a raid conducted by the city's public order officers over the weekend.

Accompanied by nongovernmental organization activist Azas Tigor Nainggolan, the traders demanded that the public order office return their merchandise, including cigarettes and drinks, seized during the crackdown.

"We rallied here after we found that the merchandise was not stored in the city's warehouse in Cakung, North Jakarta," Tigor told reporters.

The traders also urged the public order office to stop the use of violence when conducting raids, he said.

The protesters accused the city administration of hiring hoodlums in the raids. (jun)