Street vendors occupy City Hall

BUKITTINGGI, West Sumatra: Hundreds of street vendors occupied the Bukittinggi City Hall on Wednesday in protest against the demolition of their kiosks.

Eri Pangeran, spokesman for the vendors, said they were upset after security and order officials launched a cleanup operation and demolished their kiosks near the Aurkuning Tower. Eri said that the traders had been prohibited from doing businesses in the area.

The traders asked the Bukittinggi administration to compensate their losses resulting from the demolition. They also demanded that their kiosks be repaired.

In a separate interview the head of the Bukittinggi Land Transportation Agency, Boy Razhar, said that the operation was not against the law. "The most important thing is that they can do their businesses again after the nearby bus terminal project is completed.

Boy confirmed that his office initiated the operation due to the ongoing bus terminal project.(28/sur)