150 traders protest raid

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)