City to fight against vendors' backers

City to fight against vendors' backers

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to set up a
special team to investigate city employees who allegedly back
street vendors.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said on
Monday that illicit backing from city employees meant that the
administration had difficulty in removing vendors from prohibited
locations.

"We will take resolute action against any public servants who
back vendors. In this way we hope that operations against the
vendors will be able to be pursued a lot easier," Kahfi told
reporters.

City employees, in collaboration with hoodlums, have been
imposing illegal levies on street vendors. They can collect
millions of rupiah everyday just from one location, such as
Jatinegara market, East Jakarta, according to an activist.

The city administration has netted thousands of hoodlums,
street vendors, prostitutes and street singers since April this
year.

Activists have slammed the city administration's zealous drive
to arrest street vendors, saying that the move is against their
rights to earn a living. (jun)