Dozens of street vendors used to sell used goods on Jalan Bekasi Barat, RT 03/02, Rawa Bunga Urban Village, Jatinegara Sub-District, East Jakarta, which also known as Jembatan Hitam or Black Bridge, held demonstration in front of Rawa Bunga Urban Village office, Monday (6/9). They refused the controlling done by Jatinegara Sub-District and East Jakarta Water Management Public Works Sub-Department related to the new water channel construction on the land occupied by them.

We regret the controlling plan which seems sudden, especially ahead of Ramadhan when we need money for Eid ul Fitr

In their actions, the street vendors were shouting yells and unfurling banners. The demonstration was guarded by officers from Jatinegara Sector Police and East Jakarta Metro Resort Police. After giving a speech, several street vendors’ representatives were allowed to meet Deputy Head of Rawa Bunga Urban Village, Heri Ashari. From the meeting, it is agreed that the street vendors have another week of time to sell in that location.

Dani Maulana, one of the street vendors, admitted never socialized about this matter by the urban village and sub-district officials. As used goods vendor who has been selling on Jembatan Hitam since ten years ago, he actually does not mind with the controlling plan.

“We regret the controlling plan which seems sudden, especially ahead of Ramadhan when we need money for Eid ul Fitr. We also asked for new trade location so they will not be jobless. We’re afraid our kids could not continue their study and end up being idlers. Getting job is hard, and the only way to feed our family is by selling,” he uttered.

Contradictory, Head of Rawa Bunga Urban Village, Supriyanto, stated that the controlling plan has been socialized to the street vendors since long time ago and the first and second warning letter have been given to the street vendors. Moreover, about 100 street vendors also have been invited for socialization in Rawa Bunga Urban Village office.

“The third warning letter will be sent soon, so the street vendors can leave the land that will be used for the construction of new water channel on Jalan Bekasi Barat. The party to give the warning letter and socialize the street vendors is Jatinegara Sub-District. We’re only as the party which area affected by the program run by Water Management Public Works Sub-Department that is going to build a new water channel,” he explained.

According to Supriyanto, this water channel construction project is the result of the 2012 Jakarta Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang). The project was supposed to be done in 2013, but due to limited time, it is going to start this year on a land belongs to East Jakarta Parks Sub-Department and Water Management Public Works Sub-Department, which currently occupied by the street vendors.