Vendors ask for right to trade

JAKARTA: Street vendors called on the Bogor municipal administration to allow them to continue trading but, at the same time, conduct raids on indisciplined vendors.

"It's about our right to a livelihood. The administration shouldn't just ban us from trading as vendors in the area without providing any solutions," said a street vendor as quoted by Antara on Friday.

The vendors said the raids were scheduled to continue for quite some time.

"I've heard that these operations will take place for three months," said a food vendor.

The Bogor Public Order Office has been conducting raids on street vendors along Jl. Veteran and Jl. Merdeka, and in the vicinity of the Jembatan Merah triangle. The numerous vendors in these areas have been blamed for causing major traffic jams as they have taken over traffic lanes for their stalls.

Since the raids started, pedestrians have been able to reclaim the sidewalks along the affected streets. However, many remained skeptical about the raids, saying the vendors would soon be back in business and causing traffic jams again. -- JP