Vendors refuse to be removed

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A clash occurred here on Sunday between street vendors at Losari Beach and policemen who were trying to force vendors to leave the beach which will be developed as part of a reclamation project by the city administration.

The incident started in the morning when police moved the vendors' carts from the beach. Vendors, after a brief pause, decided to fight back by trying to stop the police.

After a shoving match, the two sides started hurling things at each other. Some 20 policemen were outnumbered by the vendors who numbered twice as many, and were forced to move back.

Police were able to regain control after the Mobile Brigade came along to reinforce the police presence.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Second assistant to the city administration Bakri Taba regretted the confrontation, arguing that the vendors had already been informed about the move.

"We had planned to move them to Jl. Tanjung Bunga, some 300 meters from the previous location and they had agreed," he said.

One vendor Ahmad Yani, said they refused because the new place is too small, with a space of six meters by 11 meters for every four vendors.(27/hdn)