`City denies the poor access to basic rights'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Poor people living in Jakarta are still being marginalized, as the city administration continues to deny them their basic right to a decent living by subjecting them to the threat of expulsion and eviction, says an annual report prepared by the Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ).

The institute focused its report on street vendors, becak (pedicab) drivers and slum-dwellers, who are the main target of operations carried out by city public order officials.

"The government has long since forgotten the informal sector, such as street vendors, as a real economic power," researcher Debbie of ISJ said on Monday.

"Street vendors have proved themselves to be sufficiently resilient to rise to the prolonged crisis," she added.

ISJ claims that more than 700,000 vendors operate, employing more than 900,000 workers.

"Some 3.6 million people depend for their livelihood on this informal sector," said Debbie.

Given that so many make a living as street vendors, ISJ believes that eviction will provide only a short-term solution in the quest for a clean, beautiful and orderly city.

Debbie also said similar treatment was dealt out to becak drivers, "who have become, for the city administration, public enemy number one."

ISJ claimed that there were at least 590 becak drivers in the city, supporting 2,565 dependants.

These drivers earn an average daily income of Rp 36,000 to Rp 47,000.

"Their income will decrease significantly if they change jobs, as suggested by the city administration," said Debbie.

The report also revealed that slums sustained the majority of fires in 2000, citing 591 fire incidents, of which 424 had occurred in residential areas, including slums.

"Most of the time, the fires were not accidental but rather instances of arson because the residents were not allowed to rebuild their homes," said Debbie, adding that the residents were accused of illegal occupation.