Vendors rob pedestrians' right

Vendors rob pedestrians' right

From Pikiran Rakyat

Pedestrians have so far not enjoyed formal legal protection
and no discussion has ever been held on this matter. However the
government has shown some sign of doing something about it by
building more sidewalks for the benefit of pedestrians.

Unfortunately, realities show that many vendors do their
business on the sidewalks, thus robbing the pedestrians of their
right to use the facility. Initially sidewalks were built to
beautify the city and to protect pedestrians from the traffic. In
fact the Bandung city administration, through its regulation No.
6/1995, regulates the use of the sidewalks to the effect that the
facilities should be used according to their proper function. In
line with the central ideal of this regulation, pedestrians then
might have the right to file a law suit appealing the illegal use
of the sidewalks.

I appeal to all concerned to realize their rights and
responsibilities. The sidewalks were built for pedestrians and
not for sidewalk vendors to do their business. The government has
provided a special place for business operations i.e. markets or
places especially designed for trading activities. The safety of
pedestrians must become a concern of all. In the case a
pedestrian experiences an accident, who is to blame?

SITI RAHMAWATI

Bandung, West Java