Vendors ask for right to trade

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