Monas street vendors oppose relocation plan

JAKARTA (JP): Street vendors operating around Monas (the National Monument) in Central Jakarta are opposed to the city administration's plan to remove them to a nearby location because it will lead to a drop in their daily income.

The vendors have rejected the proposed move because after only five days in the new location, the former Taman Ria recreational park, they recorded a sharp drop in the number of customers. They said they would face bankruptcy if they agreed to the plan.

Last week's relocation fell under the auspices of the Monas beautification project, an initiative aimed at sprucing up the national monument site and surrounding parkland.

The vendors were pooled in what used to be the grounds of Taman Ria in the southern part of the Monas area.

Dulmonit, 32, a fried rice vendor, complained that on one particularly bad day he did not get a single customer. "Not a single person came here to buy my food," he complained.

"If this goes on, I'm afraid I will no longer be able to earn a living and support my family," he said, adding that he used to earn at least Rp 40,000 per day before the relocation.

Similar complaints were voiced by other vendors.

Dunor, 25, a gado-gado (mixed vegetables in peanut sauce) vendor, said the administration should have taken their fate into account when drawing up the plans, and should now rethink its decision.

According to city data, approximately 300 vendors operate around Monas during weekdays, a number which swells to 500 on weekends and holidays.

Another vendor, Gianto, 25, said he understood why the administration had made the decision, but said: "Now is not the right time because we are facing difficulties due to the high cost of basic foodstuffs."

Gianto said vendors had no choice but to increase their prices, despite the fact that they lost customers by doing so.

"I don't understand why the administration, in the middle of our difficulties, decided to relocate us to an area which is not popular with visitors to Monas," the fried rice vendor said.

Dulmonit said that if the purpose of the relocation was to make the area cleaner, vendors could instead have been instructed to provide litter bins.

"Vendors could also have been fined if they failed to maintain general cleanliness. Relocation is not the answer," he added.

Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said yesterday he understood the vendor's difficulties and that they would be allowed to trade outside the Taman Ria area on public holidays.

"I have also urged the administration to improve facilities in the area, including street lighting.

"I told the governor that the area is too dark and would therefore not attract visitors," he said.

Andi said the mayoralty had organized music performances every Saturday night near the park to attract visitors. "We hope this activity will help raise vendors' income," he said.

The maiden performance was held last week, the mayor added. (ind)