Uproar as Residents Reject Pork Noodle Stall in Sukoharjo, Road Access Blocked with Soil
Access to the Mie dan Babi Tepi Sawah stall in Parangjoro Village, Grogol Subdistrict, Sukoharjo Regency, was blocked with soil. A rejection banner was erected at the end of the alley leading to the stall.
According to detikJateng, a video circulating on social media shows the access to the non-halal stall blocked by a mound of soil. On top of it was a banner stating the residents’ rejection of the stall’s presence.
The soil mound has now been levelled and is passable. However, the rejection banner remains.
“LOCAL RESIDENTS REJECT NON-HALAL STALL,” reads the banner. It features an image resembling a pig’s head crossed out in red.
The manager of Mie dan Babi Tepi Sawah, Jodi Sutanto, said the blockage occurred on Thursday (16/4) around 9:00 AM WIB. The stall was still closed at the time, as it opens at 12:00 PM.
“Yesterday, our staff were about to leave and saw a truck that had just finished unloading soil. By the time our people arrived, the truck had left. As a result, access to our stall was blocked,” Jodi told detikJateng on Friday (17/4/2026).
Jodi noted that the road is a public one and the only access to his stall. It is also used by farmers heading to their fields and as an alternative route for neighbouring villagers.
He claimed not to know the perpetrators or the motive behind placing the soil pile in the middle of the road. “I don’t know what the issue is, because there has never been any meeting,” he said.
Jodi then asked people to level the soil pile. The soil can be reclaimed by its owner.
“Whether they like it or not, the soil must be levelled; we don’t want to discard it. The important thing is that access to my place is open,” he explained.
Regarding the banner, Jodi said it was the second time it had been put up. He could only resign himself to its installation.
“The banner is the second one; the first was damaged. If they want to put up the banner, that’s fine; it’s their right to express aspirations. As business owners, we also have our own rights and aspirations,” he clarified.
He said the stall had only opened in March 2026. At the initial opening, he was visited by the local RT and RW heads who asked him to close it. He also mentioned being approached by a joint team from the Sukoharjo Regency Government to inquire about his business permit.
“Our legality is not an issue,” he said.
“I have included a non-halal notice, plus the name includes ‘babi’ (pork),” he added.
His side is willing to sit down with parties unhappy with his business to find the best solution.
Village Head Denies Closing Road Access
Contacted separately, Parangjoro Village Head Hardiman denied that the soil was deliberately placed to block access to the non-halal stall. He said the soil pile was intended to raise the road level.
“It wasn’t blocked; it just happened that the residents had a long-standing plan to raise the road, as it’s too low. The residents wanted to fill and level it. It wasn’t left there; the residents were going to level it too. It might be a misunderstanding by the stall owner,” Hardiman said.
Hardiman acknowledged that the stall’s presence had indeed caused controversy among residents. His office had sought clarification to facilitate discussions between residents and the stall owner.
He said the controversy was sparked by the lack of permission from local residents near the stall’s location. Residents were unaware of the opening plans despite the stall having a business permit.
“It might be allowed to sell pork, but in a place like this, there are rules: please ask for opinions first. What kind of business is this, can the environment accept it or not? We weren’t consulted either; suddenly it opened. Then there was unrest in the community feeling ‘westernised’ by the pork noodles,” he explained.
His office continues to act as a neutral party to facilitate both sides.
“We are still calming the situation. We follow up on community aspirations by clarifying with the stall owner,” he said.
“We also mediate with the community, providing understanding that if it’s regulated by law, it’s fine to sell. Because pigs are livestock animals and can be bought and sold,” he added.