Officers destroy vendor carts

JAKARTA: West Jakarta municipality public order officers and police destroyed dozens of push carts owned by street vendors early on Sunday morning along Jl. S. Parman, Jl. K.S. Tubun and the Slipi intersection at Jl. Daan Mogot.

Dozens of dump trucks were deployed to load the remains of the push carts.

The vendors did not put up a fight as most were not present after having closed down their business due to the long Idul Fitri Holiday.

One radio talk-show caller criticized the officers, saying they were "cowards" for destroying the push carts without any knowledge by the owners.

The caller also urged authorities to investigate allegations that most vendors had been made to pay city officials -- for what they thought was the legal right to work there.

Street vendor evictions were also conducted by the Central Jakarta municipality public order officers in the Senen Market area. However, there were still a few vendors selling VCDs near the Gatot Subroto hospital. -- Antara