Vendors refuse to be removed

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)