Jakarta. The city government deployed hundreds of civil servants to clear hawkers from Tanah Abang market on Saturday, an operation the government described as a massive crack down.
“At 10 a.m. we commenced the integrated operation in Tanah Abang market area,” Tanah Abang Police chief, Adj.Sr.Cmr. Anom Setyadji, told Detik.com on Saturday.
Anom said a joint task force consisting of 120 public order officers (Satpol PP), 40 police officers, 20 soldiers from the local military post, 45 Jakarta transportation agency staff and dozens of security officers had been deployed to remove hawkers.
Acting Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama issued a warning to street vendors last week, saying they must immediately vacate the main street and sidewalks.
“I have told the mayor and Satpol PP that we will not tolerate this,” Basuki said. “We will clean them up there will be no way for [the vendors] to act like you’re above the law,” he said.
Vendors and hawkers in Tanah Abang have been long accused of being responsible for monstrous traffic congestion in the area by trading on the side of the street.
The government has relocated vendors to Blok G, an indoor area provided by the city administration that can accommodate up to 1,000 kiosks, adequate to handle the new arrivals who had been doing business along the side of the road.
Traders complained of less footfall at the location — causing many to return to Tanaha Abang.
“We will no longer tolerate the violations committed by street vendors because the Jakarta administration is under no obligation whatsoever to provide locations for their businesses,” Basuki said, adding that many of the vendors were not from the capital.
By Jakarta Globe on 03:12 pm Jun 14, 2014
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