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)