400 vendors ask for trading space

400 vendors ask for trading space

TANGERANG: Some 400 street vendors from Pasar Anyer, the main
market in the Tangerang mayoralty, staged a rally at the mayor's
office on Monday, demanding the municipal administration to
provide them space for trading.

"We want to talk to Mayor M. Thamrin because his subordinates
failed to accommodate our aspirations," one of the vendors, Ujang
Tanjung, said.

He said street vendors at Pasar Anyer could not trade
peacefully since the municipal public order officers, who
frequently raided them, always seized their merchandise and kept
all of it without compensation.

"If the officers disturb vendors, how can we live and feed our
families. Did we commit some crime? No, we just want space to do
our business," said another vendor, Yusnir.

The vendors arrived at the office at about 9 a.m. after they
marched defiantly from Pasar Anyer, a kilometer away.

Dozens of police officers, who were equipped with tear gas
guns, later arrived at the office around noon to control the
enraged vendors. --JP