Universities asked to handle vendors

JAKARTA: Central Jakarta Mayor Muhayat will involve the management of universities located on Jl. Kramat and Jl. Salemba, to resolve problems arising from the presence of street vendors near their campuses.

"I will invite the rectors of the University of Indonesia, Christian Indonesian University and YAI Persada Indonesia University to discuss how to handle the vendors," he said on Friday.

"We will seek an amicable solution. The vendors will still be allowed to operate, but only at night as the sidewalk should be reserved for pedestrians," he added.

Students have defended the vendors, against city public order officers seeking to rid them from the area by seizing their carts and merchandise. Clashes between the officers and vendors have not been uncommon. -- JP