Viral Incident: Satpol PP Clears Street Vendors During CFD at HI, Chief States Ban Has Always Been in Place

A number of Satpol PP officers enforcing rules against street vendors during the Car Free Day (CFD) at Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout drew widespread attention, with the action deemed excessive. Satriadi Gunawan, head of the Jakarta Provincial Satpol PP, stated the incident occurred on Sunday, 24 May 2026. He said the CFD area in Jakarta should not be used for selling, adding that all vendors were aware of the rules. ‘CFD has always been a strict no-street-vendor zone. This vendor was just being bold,’ he told reporters on Sunday. Officers asked the vendor to leave the CFD area, which he described as handled humanely and professionally. However, some citizens recorded the officers from different angles when others defended the vendor, prompting officials to explain the situation to them. ‘When videos showed citizens defending the vendor, we explained that most vendors know CFD prohibits selling. Perhaps the red-shirted individual was unaware, but the CFD rules have long been in place,’ Satriadi said. He maintained the enforcement was humane and the vendor did not object, but tensions with onlookers caused the incident to go viral. ‘It was handled humanely, and the vendor wasn’t bothered. It’s just that some outsiders unfamiliar with CFD rules got upset,’ he added. Satriadi confirmed authorities did not seize the vendor’s goods, only asking them to vacate the CFD zone. He stressed that vendors are not banned from selling, but must adhere to regulations. ‘No selling on pavements as it obstructs pedestrians, especially in the prime Sudirman-Thamrin area. During CFD, even roadside vendors are prohibited, let alone mobile coffee sellers there,’ he said. Previously, Satpol PP officers were filmed clearing an ice cream vendor at the HI roundabout during CFD. The footage showed officers forcing the bicycle-riding vendor out of the area, with some seen pulling the vendor’s bicycle. Officers were seen forcibly pulling the vendor, prompting online criticism that the enforcement was excessive and should have been handled more humanely.