Potted plants will 'replace' vendors

Potted plants will 'replace' vendors

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has ordered 120 traders operating along Jl. Matraman Raya in Jatinegara to leave the area as of Jan. 18, despite their appeal to remain until the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday.

Zamris D, head of the East Jakarta Law and Order office, said East Jakarta Mayor H. Sudarsono had instructed him to expel the traders from the area who continue to cause traffic jams.

Once the traders are gone, the mayoralty plans to put potted plants along the sidewalks.

Zamris made the statement when he received a delegation representing the 120 traders that demanded permission to operate in the areas until Idul Fitri, the Antara news agency reported.

He promised to help solve their problems by moving them to a number of market sites throughout the East Jakarta mayoralty.

The mayoralty also received similar complaints from traders from Pulogadung and Cililitan, who turned down the mayoralty's plans to expel them.

"We will not hesitate to take stern measures against those who refuse to move away," Zamris said, adding that the removal of the traders was part of the city administration's law enforcement efforts.

Responding to Zamris's explanation, members of the delegation voiced their plans to hold the city administration to its promise of placing the traders in selected markets.

"The sooner the better. We want to start trading in the new places so as not to suffer great losses," said Ujang, head of the delegation.

Hatta, another trader, urged his colleagues to abide by the city regulation. "This is very positive, because the city administration intends to help us search for a way out," he added.

Another delegation representing the traders also went to the office of the National Commission on Human Rights on Thursday to complain about the expulsion plan.

In response to the complaint, the commission urged the mayoralty to be humane in settling the dispute with the sidewalk traders. (25)