Monas street vendors oppose relocation plan

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)