Medan evicts food and drink vendors

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Dozens of roadside food and drink vendors around Merdeka Park have protested against their eviction to the Medan municipal authorities, saying it has affected their daily income.

"Following the eviction, our sales have dropped by 50 percent to 75 percent," said a chicken noodle vendor at the park area. He questioned the eviction because the traders obtained permission from the Kesawan subdistrict office to erect stalls around the park.

Vendors selling chicken noodles and meatballs admitted that before the eviction, they could sell a minimum of 300 bowls of noodles, but it had now dropped to only 100 to 130 bowls. They also questioned why the eviction was carried out ahead of the elections. -- Antara