City sweeps squatters

City sweeps squatters

The city administration is stepping up its operation of
removing squatters and vendors from main streets, shopping
centers, recreational sites and pedestrian bridges.

"The operation is being carried out as the city prepares for
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on Nov. 15
and will be further intensified ten days before the meeting,"
Toha Reno, an official of the City Public Order office, told
Antara over the weekend.

He explained that from April to September 1994, a total of
1,001 squatters had been detained and most were sent back to
their homes in various provincial regions.

He said that the intensity of the operation was evidenced by
the number of those arrested on Oct. 27, when 19 squatters were
caught.

"There are still many squatters in the streets and some of
them just arrived in the city because of the droughts affecting
their hometowns," Toha said.

The office has increased pressure on sidewalk vendors and
peddlers in forbidden places and in September alone a total of 29
sidewalk vendors and 543 peddlers were arrested.

Toha explained that 31 serious locations need special
attention from the office, such as Ancol in North Jakarta
Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) in East Jakarta, Jl. Sudirman
in South Jakarta, Jl. Thamrin and Matraman crossing, Monas and
Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta.

He also said that due to inadequate personnel to curb all
peddlers, squatters and sidewalk vendors, "we are forced to play
hide and seek with them, especially on Jl. Sudirman and Jl.
Thamrin," Toha said. (yns)