Senayan vendors protest eviction

JAKARTA: Dozens of vendors from the Senayan Vendors Association (HPSJ) staged a protest at the City Council on Friday, demanding that the management of the Bung Karno Sports Complex halt plans to evict them.

HPSJ secretary-general Deden M. Ilham said the City Council in May asked the management of the sports complex not to evict the vendors, "but apparently the management ignored this request as, in their last notice, they said the plan would proceed".

The management plans to evict the vendors from the eastern parking lot of the sports complex and plant trees in the area.

"Earlier the management wanted to evict us because of people illegally parking their cars there and the crime in the area, now they are using the environmental issue .... If the management insists on evicting us, small vendors, why do they allow the cafes to stay open?" Deden asked.

The eastern parking lot of the sports complex is a favorite gathering place, and there are at least 5,000 vendors working in the area. -- JP