Military condemned for treatment of street vendors

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) condemned the military in Cianjur, West Java, for getting involved in the street vendor problem in the regency.

Kontras coordinator Ori Rahman said in a press release on Saturday that the military's interference had led to violence against the vendors.

"We demand that all military personnel in the field stop their interference in the handling of the street vendor problem because street vendors pose no threat to security," he said.

Ori also said military personnel should avoid any actions that violate legal procedures, in a bid to reestablish the professionalism of the military.

He said the military should work professionally and in accordance with its function as a defensive force.

Kontras received a report detailing the military's raid on street vendors in Cianjur on Nov. 13. According to the report, soldiers from Brawijaya Battalion 327 and Cianjur Battalion V chased and beat street vendors operating illegally in the city.

Two vendors, identified as Iwir Wiharta, 25, and Agus, 30, were seriously injured in the raid, while another vendor, Asep, received some bruises on his face.

The report also said the soldiers destroyed goods and merchandise belonging to a number of street vendors.

Kostras also condemned the Cianjur administration for involving the military in the raid, saying Cianjur Regent Wasidi Swastono should have know better than to bring in the military to deal with street vendors.

Ori said the Cianjur administration should remain committed to empowering small-scale entrepreneurs, including street vendors, in the regency.

"The regent should take human values into consideration in taking necessary measures against street vendors," he said.

He called on the regent to set aside areas of the city for the street vendors to work, to prevent them from clogging up the streets and sidewalks.