Hoodlums still milking vendors at markets
Hoodlums still milking vendors at markets
JAKARTA (JP): Despite a massive crackdown against hoodlums by
the city administration, thugs are still operating freely in a
number of markets in the city, extorting money from vendors and
public transportation drivers.
Hoodlums are still rampant in Jakarta markets such as Tanah
Abang textile hub and Senen market in Central Jakarta, Kebayoran
Lama market in South Jakarta, and even in Rawa Bening precious
stones market in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.
Traders and sidewalk vendors in those markets complained that
the city's campaign against hoodlums, costing the city
administration Rp 1 billion (US$910,000) in the past month, had
not reduced the illegal fees imposed on them by various parties,
including street thugs and organized gangs.
Samin, 35, a sidewalk toy seller at Tanah Abang, for instance,
revealed on Friday that he still had to pay around Rp 5,000 a day
to a number of thugs operating in the market.
Once, he said, he was badly beaten by four thugs after he gave
them less money than what they demanded.
"No other street traders dared to help me as they did not want
to create problems with the thugs here," he said.
A similar story was shared by Benyamin, 49, a fruit juice
vendor at Senen market. He said he and other vendors in the
market had to allocate no less than Rp 5,000 a day each for
several fees, including those paid to thugs.
He said he earned about Rp 20,000 a day, but he could only
take home Rp 15,000 a day.
He said he would rather pay the illegal fees than risk a
surprise attack from hoodlums.
"Once I refused to give them money as I had only two customers
up until noon. But they did not understand. They went into a rage
and broke all the glasses and overturned my pushcart," he said,
adding that he had to spend Rp 200,000 to buy new glasses and
repair the pushcart.
He added that thugs were always quick to hide or escape if the
police or other law enforcers conducted a raid at the market.
Dadang, 37, a fruit vendor at Kebayoran Lama market said that
besides thugs, he had to pay illegal fees to a number of parties,
including private market security personnel and local youth
organizations.
"I have to spend at least Rp 5,000 out of my daily income that
ranges from Rp 15,000 up to Rp 25,000 only to feed hoodlums,
market officers and security personnel," Dadang said.
About 20 meters away from Dadang, noodle vendor Lukman, 47,
confirmed that he had to pay uang jago (security money) every day
to a group of hoodlums.
Several vendors at Rawa Bening precious stones market in
Jatinegara also complained about the presence of hoodlums who
continuously extorted money from them.
Soft drink seller Arjani, 45, said it was common for sidewalk
vendors in Rawa Bening market to spare Rp 5,000 per day for
several illegal fees, including those paid to thugs.
Safri, 25, a compact disc seller at Rawa Bening market
supported Arjani's statement and said thugs charged him at least
Rp 2,000 per day.
"Thugs here are organized well by a group under the protection
of certain police and TNI (Indonesian Military) officers. That's
why no vendors here dare to refuse to pay Rp 1,000 or 2,000 per
day to them," he said. (01)