Sidewalk traders stage protest

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: About 5,000 sidewalk vendors staged a protest at a roundabout in Palembang city center on Monday, rejecting the mayor's decision to move them to the city's Jakabaring market.

"The mayor is not being fair. We are only trying earn a living in the Pasar 16 market," a trader, Effendi, said.

He said that Jakabaring market did not attract many customers, meaning it would be hard for traders to earn money. "We refuse to be removed. We ask the mayor to be wise."

The protest started at around 10 a.m. with protesters demanding to meet Mayor Eddy Santana Putra. At 1 p.m., Eddy met 50 representatives of the traders.

Eddy said the city had prepared the new market for the traders.

"The market is very presentable and it's ready. So I object if people say we're evicting the traders." The old Pasar 16 market would be renovated, he said. -- JP