Sidewalk vendors evicted in Senen

Sidewalk vendors evicted in Senen

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta administration evicted on
Wednesday dozens of sidewalk vendors in front of the Senen Atrium
shopping mall and beneath the Senen overpass.

The vendors said they had received a final notice to vacate
the area but refused to do so because the administration did not
provide them space where they could relocate.

The eviction threatened to turn violent when the public order
officers carted away the vendors' merchandise.

The vendors claimed they paid between Rp 50,000 (US$6) and Rp
100,000 a day to police officers to be allowed to operate in the
area.

One of the vendors said they even gave the officers holiday
bonuses for Idul Fitri last November. --JP