Small-scale vendors' outcry

Small-scale vendors' outcry

From Media Indonesia

We are owners of small shops all over Jakarta and earnestly
ask the relevant government agencies to immediately close down
IndoMart chain supermarkets as they have robbed us of our right
to run small-scale businesses. Otherwise, we will close them down
in our own way.

The Indofood Group and Marco-Mart-Groceries have siphoned off
Rp 64 trillion of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support Loans (BLBI)
and taken the money abroad. They have robbed the government and
now would like to put small-scale vendors out of business. So,
where are the consciences of government officials, allowing
IndoMart to demonstrate their arrogance and avarice in small
alleys.

Small-scale businesses have earned a lot of praises. They are
called an economic bumper and a safety valve and have been
praised for being crisis resistant. Indeed, small-scale
businessmen have never troubled the government and neither have
they begged banks for loans. We are independent. But don't let
the giant dragon swallow a small worm. It seems a truism that it
may be difficult to be part of the community of the lower social
class, like laborers and servants in one's own country. May
relevant government officials be willing to open the doors to
their hearts.

YUSUF FAHMI

Jakarta