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

`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