`I know selling these items is wrong ...'

It was business as usual in Glodok, West Jakarta, on Thursday. Hundreds of street vendors, including those selling pirated VCDs, packed the area despite several security officers witnessed patrolling the market. Ten days ago, City Public Order officers evicted the vendors, claiming they disrupted traffic and sold illegal VCDs, including pornographic films. The Jakarta Post talked to some of the vendors about their businesses and wishes.

Iwan, 30, a street vendor who has been selling VCDs in Glodok for nine years. He lives with his wife and two children in Kranji, Bekasi:

Honestly speaking, I'm scared of the City Public Order officers' actions. On the other hand, I am aware that it's wrong to sell illegal VCDs, including the blue movies. It is violating the law, I know it.

However, it is a matter of survival. I cannot do anything else other than sell VCDs here.

But, in a way, the city administration is foolish. If vendors are evicted all the time, it will only result in rising unemployment.

I cannot imagine what will happen to the city if jobless people commit crimes. Who is supposed to be responsible for that? The government should have been grateful to the vendors who created their own jobs.

I disagree with the idea of moving the vendors here to the city-owned Pasar Pagi market. I'm sure business would be sluggish there.

Udin, 35, a street vendor who has been selling VCDs for five years. He lives with his wife and two children in Jelambar, West Jakarta:

I realize that selling pirated VCDs, including pornography, is prohibited as it is against the law and norms. Eighty percent of my VCDs are porn because many people want to buy them and the profits are bigger than the regular ones.

But I cannot deny the fact that my family life depends greatly on this business.

I have to be watchful all day as I have once been arrested and spent five days in a police cell. My family paid around Rp 5 million to set me free.

Here, in Glodok, we have been evicted three times this year.

Despite the threat of eviction, I continue selling my merchandise. If they raid me, I will let the officers take my merchandise but not myself. I can buy VCDs and reopen the business later. I don't have money to set me free.

To survive, I would fight even if I have to die just for the sake of my own family.

But I disagree if street vendors are blamed for disrupting the traffic. You see, the traffic congestion remains (even though vendors have moved back about three meters). And we don't want to move to another location.

Rudi, 24, a street vendor who has been selling VCDs for four years. He is still single and lives in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta:

My heart always beats fast since I sell blue movies and pirated VCDs. I know that selling these items is wrong. But I cannot simply rely on the sales of music VCDs or regular movies as the XXX-rated films lure more buyers.

I don't want to be relocated to sell my merchandise. The public has the image of Glodok with its inexpensive VCDs in mind. So, I'm afraid there would be no buyers coming to the new location.

Arek, not his real name, 31, a parking attendant at the Harco shopping center in Glodok, West Jakarta. He lives in North Jakarta:

I agree with the eviction of the street vendors here. Somehow, they have partly caused the traffic congestion and insecurity. The vendors have tainted city order.

However, it is regretful the police and city administration officials are not taking serious measures to remove the vendors.

Many times I have seen the police attempt to resell the confiscated porn VCDs to the other street vendors at far cheaper prices.

I feel upset about it. We were told earlier by the district officials to help them discipline the vendors, but I don't want to do so. I know they are like me, both of us work to survive, and I don't have the authority.

-- Leo Wahyudi S