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)