Vendors reject Batam eviction

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