Vendors clash with East Jakarta public order officers

JAKARTA (JP): A mob, mostly of street vendors and car washers, clashed with public order officials in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta on Friday morning after the latter forcibly attempted to close their businesses.

Public order officials came to Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai early on Friday morning, but were surprised at being met with resistance by street vendors and car washers.

A number of workers from makeshift carwashes on the road said they had heard news about the planned operation by city public order officials against them one or two days beforehand, and therefore were prepared for the confrontation.

"We packed up our equipment and signs. When the officers came and started pushing away our vending carts, we fought them. They have no right to do this," Muki, a street car washer who has worked there since 1998, told reporters at the scene.

Following the clash, angry vendors and car washers burned tires and other items, causing the streets to become deserted as motorists sought alternative routes.

Police were not present in or around the area.

As of 8:30 a.m. on Friday, East Jakarta Police officers said Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai remained closed as masses had burned tires and cut down trees to block the road.

Miki said the city administration had no right to evict street vendors and car washers from the area since they had been operating there since the 1980s.

"We have been here for years now, and there are some who have been here since the early 1980s. You can't just kick us out," Muki said.

Separately, City Governor Sutiyoso declared that following Friday's incident, public order operations against street traders would be temporarily halted.

"Yes, we should slow down and stop operations for a while. We will try to avoid having any clashes with street traders," Sutiyoso told reporters at City Hall.

He said the postponement of operations were made particularly because of the upcoming convening of the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Sutiyoso went as far as to say that the street traders were possibly used by certain parties to create security and public order disturbances to stop the special session from being held.

"There are so many rumors circulating that certain parties will create unrest to halt the special session," Sutiyoso said.

However, Sutiyoso insisted that the city administration would not put an end to public order operations, and that they would resume when the situation returns to normal. (ylt/jun)