Socialization on the banning of purchasing foods and drinks in Monas area, which has been spread out throughout leaflets, is responded negatively by the street vendors there. They even dare to scold the officers.

All visitors frightened to be subjected and fined of Rp 20 million. Just now, a kid wanted to buy a drink, but he canceled it due to afraid of the penalty

The street vendors argued that the penalty of Rp 20 million for Monas visitors purchasing foods and drinks from street vendors in Monas area has caused their income declines. “ All visitors frightened to be subjected and fined of Rp 20 million. Just now, a kid wanted to buy a drink, but he canceled it due to afraid of the penalty ,” told Ali Usman (41), a meatball seller at IRTI Market Monas, Tuesday (4/15).

Usman stated that the leaflets have been spread out by Monas Park Management Unit since Thursday (4/11) night. As a result, many visitors are reluctant to buy anything due to afraid of the penalty. Eventually, his income declines sharply from Rp 3 million a day to Rp 400 thousand a day. “I used to get Rp 3 million a day. Now, it’s only Rp 400 thousand a day,” complained the man from Madura who has been selling in Monas area since 20 years ago.

Usman assessed the fine sanction is harming the vendors and causing them suffer loss. “The vendors want this regulation to be removed. If this is the circumstance, it will bring misfortune to the vendors. There is no article about this (penalty of Rp 20 million),” he said while pointing to the leaflet from Monas Park Management Unit.

In the same location, UPT Monas security officer M Andrian (20) admitted that his party is overwhelmed to extrude the street vendors in Monas area. Moreover, all this time their duty is only urging and directing the street vendors as optimal as possible. “We can only hold the street vendors not to come inside, we do not hope clash to happen,” expressed the man when met at Gate 1 Monas south side in front of Indosat Building.

Since their duty is to prevent clash, Andrian continued, he and his colleagues cannot do much against unruly street vendors who usually stay overnight in their stalls at Monas IRTI Market, then enter Monas Park in the morning. “They usually come in the morning before us, the officers, are on duty. If we forced them to get out of the gate, clash would occur because street vendors would throw their stuff to us,” he disclosed.

According to Andrian, the characteristic of street vendors in Monas area is very harsh. Every time they were disciplined, some of them would bring sharp weapons and harm the officers. “We are urged to avoid clash, while the street vendors here are really harsh,” he finished.