Vendors rally against thuggery

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

At least 300 vendors of a traditional market here staged a protest at the North Sumatra legislative council on Thursday, demanding protection against thugs they accused of persistently trying to evict them.

The protesters, from the Tembung market in Deli Serdang regency, urged the council to protect their right to continue trading.

They complained that over the last two months, thugs had intimidated and terrorized them at the market, where they have operated for years.

According to the vendors, many of them had been kicked and beaten for refusing to leave the area.

Lina Lubis, a vendor, said although she had never wanted to move, she had become so frightened that she would comply with the thugs' orders.

"Because I was late to pack up my goods, I was kicked by hoodlums, even though I was in the late stages of pregnancy," Lina told The Jakarta Post during the protest.

Erbo Purba, another trader, said the thugs had suggested another location to the vendors, which was not far from the market. However, they had demanded the vendors pay Rp 15 million (US$1,800) for a kiosk, he added.

The offer was rejected by the traders on the grounds that the expensive kiosks had not even been built yet.

"The (thugs) seemingly want to kill (our business) slowly. We need peace to operate here," Erbo said.

It has often been reported that thugs are backed by security forces, who use them to extort businesspeople and vendors.

Responding to Thursday's protest, councillor Pajak Sitepu said the activities of thugs in Tembung market must be stopped.

"The Deli Serdang administration should immediately overcome the problem before the situation worsens,

"If it's true that vendors must be evicted for development reasons, the local government should prepare an alternative location, which is safe and free for them. Don't use thugs to kick them out," Pajak stressed.

Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Bagus Kurniawan, who was present at the council building, vowed to crack down on the activity and stop the thugs from intimidating the traders.

During the protest, Bagus talked to the vendors and promised to protect them.