Warteg Vendor Describes Scuffle Between Satpol PP and Construction Workers During Enforcement Operation
Several construction workers attacked Satpol PP officers during a pavement-enforcement operation in South Jakarta. A mobile warteg vendor described how the operation ended in a disturbance.
Mike, a mobile seller of warteg rice meals, said that when he arrived at the site on Thursday afternoon (8 October 2026), Satpol PP officers politely asked him to move his stall. Shortly afterwards, he witnessed a confrontation involving Satpol PP, police, transport officials and construction workers.
He said the workers were hungry and hot. Their motorbike tyres had also been deflated during the operation to crack down on illegal parking.
“Probably because it was hot, they were hungry and were being disturbed while trying to eat,” Mike said, Antara reported on Monday (12 October 2026).
He did not know whether anyone had been injured in the incident. However, after the disturbance, the tyres of many of the motorbikes had been deflated.
The workers eventually called someone with a compressor to reinflate their tyres. “After that, someone brought a compressor here,” he said.
Another vendor, Naryo, added that the dispute between the officers and workers caused a traffic jam at the site.
“It came to a complete standstill. Traffic from that direction [Taman Puring] could not move. All vehicles coming this way from there were unable to move,” Naryo said.
Mike and Naryo usually travel by motorbike, selling food to construction workers. Before stopping near the Attorney General’s Office and Bulungan, Mike regularly sold food at several construction sites in Menteng. Both said they began selling at the current location because they knew the site foreman.
Pramono calls for legal proceedings
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said legal proceedings should continue over the incident in which construction workers attacked Satpol PP officers near the Bulungan swimming pool in South Jakarta. An officer was injured in the confrontation and needed six stitches.
“The Satpol PP officer was treated at the Selong urban community health centre and received six stitches,” Pramono said in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, on Monday (12 October).
Pramono said violence against officers carrying out their duties must not be allowed to go unanswered. He called on the authorities to enforce the rules and handle the case in accordance with the law.
“Last night I said that we must not give in to thuggery, whoever is responsible. They were carrying out their duties, so I have asked for the rules to be enforced,” he said.
Pramono said representatives of the project’s management had met officials from Kebayoran Baru sub-district to apologise and ask that the matter be resolved amicably. However, he insisted that legal proceedings continue despite the apology.
“I told the head of the Satpol PP agency to first hear what happened. But since there was already an assault, and they chased and intimidated the officers, I have asked for the legal process to continue,” he said.