Governor blames militant vendors for street disorder
Governor blames militant vendors for street disorder
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso blamed increased militancy
among street vendors on Monday for the increasing disorderliness
in the streets of the capital.
Sutiyoso said he detected a growing trend among vendors,
particularly those who were economically hard-pressed, to break
the law.
"They not only violate rules, but sometimes they even attack
city officials," he told a plenary meeting of the City Council
which is scrutinizing his performance over the past year.
The administration faced a dilemma in dealing with street
vendors, he said.
"On one hand, we have to uphold the supremacy of the law, but
on the other hand, we have to understand the difficulties people
have in surviving the economic crisis," he said.
He promised that the administration would continue to try to
restore order in the streets of Jakarta by using a humane
approach towards illegal street vendors.
The administration estimated that some 270,000 people are
hawking their wares in the streets of the capital, a sharp
increase from about 120,000 before the economic crisis hit the
country in 1997.
Most of these vendors are believed to have come from out of
town, prompting calls by councillors for tougher action by the
administration to send them back to their villages.
The administration has conducted a series of raids to put the
areas in order. In several cases, these raids triggered violent
responses from the vendors.
The Council earlier criticized Sutiyoso for his failure to
restore peace and order in Jakarta in line with his own motto to
make Jakarta a clean and beautiful capital city.
Various factions in the Council debating Sutiyoso's June 5
speech have also attacked the governor for his failure to
eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism practices within the
administration.
Responding to criticisms of the rampant gambling activities in
Jakarta, Sutiyoso said the administration's role is limited to
maintaining order and that it is the responsibility of the police
to conduct raids and investigations. "The administration will
continue to monitor places allegedly used for gambling," he said.
Sutiyoso promised to get rid of some 6,500 becaks (three-
wheeled pedicabs) which have returned to Jakarta streets since
1998 when the governor decided to allow the becaks to operate in
the capital streets to help out the poor.
The policy was reversed within weeks and the governor has
since been attacked from all sides for this flip-flop.
However, Sutiyoso denied on Monday ever making a written or
verbal policy to allow becaks to operate in the city.
The council will continue to deliberate on Sutiyoso's speech
and is expected to give its final evaluation on July 24.
While the council's evaluation is simply an annual score card
on the governor's performance, a discontented council has the
capability to oust the governor, as shown by the recent
experience in Aceh. The Aceh governor was removed by President
Abdurrahman Wahid this month at the recommendation of the
province's legislative council.
The City Council factions on Monday appeared divided on
Sutiyoso's response to their views.
Ahmad Heryawan of the Justice Party said the answers were too
general and lacked depth.
He cited as an example the answer on the efforts to eradicate
corruption and other irregularities.
"If only Sutiyoso had elaborated on the problems in creating a
clean administration, we could make a better judgment. We could
even offer solutions," Ahmad said.
Siti Wasilah Sutrisno of the National Mandate Party said "the
governor could have done much better by providing detailed
answers. He also didn't answer our questions on public and social
facilities," she said.
Tubagus Abbas Saleh Ma'mun of the National Awakening Party
said he was quite satisfied with the governor's answers.
"We understand that Sutiyoso has to carry all the burden by
himself although he didn't create these problems," he said.
"The economic crisis further added to his burden. He has to
clean up all the mess," Tubagus said.
He nevertheless criticized the governor for not using the
reform momentum to cleanse the administration from corruption and
other irregularities.
"He should replace 75 percent of his officials," he said.
(06/nvn)