Governor asks vendors to keep public order

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso called for self-restraint on the part of public order officers and sidewalk vendors yesterday, following Monday's clash between the groups in Blok M, South Jakarta.

Temperance is vital if undesirable consequences are to be avoided, he said.

"The country is facing enough hardships, don't create new problems."

Sutiyoso said he had ordered his staff to avoid physical confrontations with vendors.

"Mutual understanding is needed between the officers and vendors."

On Monday, the officers ordered vendors, who operate along Jl. Falatehan -- in front of the state-owned securities paper and bank note printing company (Peruri) office -- to relocate.

But the vendors were offended by the way the officers conducted their routine operation. The officers were reportedly rude and inhumane.

The vendors attacked the officers and pelted two patrol cars belonging to the South Jakarta mayoralty.

Police reportedly fired warning shots to stop the commotion, which began about 8 a.m.

The incident is now being handled by Kebayoran Baru Police precinct in South Jakarta.

Sutiyoso acknowledged that the Peruri complex should be secure at all times and sidewalk vendors were prohibited from operating and displaying their merchandise there.

"They should not have sold their merchandise there as they can use the site in the Blok M market."

An official from the public order office, Toha Reno, said yesterday the clash was due to a misunderstanding.

"It's our job to organize sidewalks vendors... There must have been some people who eventually became hostile when we tried to move them away from the road.

"We'll just try to handle this thing carefully because in this difficult (economic) situation, people's emotions tend to run high," he said. (edt/ind/emf)