Vendors object to evictions

JAKARTA: Street vendors in front of the British Embassy on Jl. Prof. Moh. Yamin, SH in Central Jakarta expressed their skepticism on Tuesday about the Menteng district's plan to evict them.

One of the 12 vendors operating in the area said he had been evicted five times previously, and was always able to reopen his business.

Also, a number of security guards at the embassy expressed their objection to the plan, saying that without the vendors they would be unable to buy an affordable lunch so near their workplace.

The head of the Menteng district, Suprihatin, said he has asked the vendors to vacate the area voluntarily, so public order officers will not have to be called in to forcibly evict them.

He added that he hoped to be able to relocate the vendors somewhere nearby.

A letter of notification was given to all of the vendors on Monday, asking them to leave the area within a week. -- JP