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