Gangsters threaten bird traders

Dozens of bird traders at the Flora Fauna market in Kelapa Gading Permai, North Jakarta, have lodged a complaint at the local military district office about intimidation by a number of racketeers.

Indera Setiawan, representing the group, told the chief of the North Jakarta military office, Lt. Col. Bachir Alamsyah, on Wednesday that the racketeers, whose number total more than 30, had intimidated the traders by destroying bird cages, stealing birds, and taunting them by telling them that the location will be demolished to make way for new buildings.

According to Indera, the members of the gangs have stepped up their intimidation tactics intensively in the past four weeks.

"They will demolish our bird cages and fences if we refuse to give them money," he said.

Some traders had already closed their business as they could no longer afford the extortion.

Bachir vowed to immediately see to the case under a joint operation with related institutions, such as the local police and administration office. (bsr)