Streets vendors rally against ban

DENPASAR, Bali: Hundreds of street vendors staged peaceful rally here on Wednesday protesting a recently-issued decree that bans them from doing business at the famous Sanur beach area.

The protest organizer Jaelani Argo called on authorities to revoke the ban since no alternative spot has been provided by the administration for vendors to sell their wares.

"We call on the Denpasar mayor to look closely at this matter because all we are asking is a chance to keep our livelihood," Argo told reporters.

Local reports said that the decree was issued following a climb in criminal rate in the Sanur beach area after it was suspected that street vendors, most of whom are migrants from outside Bali islands, were suspected of being involved in street- muggings in the area.(zen)