Vendors reject Batam eviction

BATAM, Riau: About 200 street vendors protested outside the Batam legislative council building on Tuesday to oppose the mayor's plan to evict them from their market in Simpang Dam and Simpang Base Cam.

The protesters urged the authorities to delay the plan to evict them on May 19 or pay them proper compensation if they were removed.

Earlier last week, a similar plan to evict some 400 families from the Tanah Longsor area ended in violence as residents fought public order officers. Several people were wounded, including two who sustained gunshot wounds. --JP