Street vendors occupy City Hall

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)