Street Vendors Control in Tanah Abang Marred with Fistfights

The control against illegal parking management and street vendors trading on sidewalks and roadsides in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, ends up in chaos and fistfights, Thursday (7/17).

The operation results two trucks loaded with carriages and street vendors’ stalls. We also had secured one street vendor, but he has been released after made agreement letter

The tension started when the officers forcibly took a signpost belongs to an illegal parking management across Tanah Abang Blok C Market. Did not accept the officers’ action, two illegal parking management people tried to take back the signpost which had been transported to Satpol PP car.

“Give it back to us, it’s just a signpost!” yelled one of the illegal parking management people.

Illegal Parking, Tens of Motorcycles in Tanah Abang Market Ticketed

Seeing that, Head of Tanah Abang Sub-District, Hidayatullah, who joined in the operation, instantly dispelled them. As a result, arguments and jostling between the officers and illegal parking management people became unavoidable.

The situation heated up again when the officers controlled the street vendors on Jalan Jati Baru, precisely in front of Tanah Abang Station exit gate. In this location, the street vendors selling cell phones recalcitrant their goods being transported by Satpol PP officers. Again, jostling and punching between the officers and street vendors happened. But luckily, the street vendors’ rage can be calmed down shortly after the officers released them.

Head of Central Jakarta Satpol PP, Yadi Rusmayadi, said this operation is carried out by 150 joint personnel from Satpol PP, Central Jakarta Transportation Sub-Department, garrison, and the police. They managed to seize tens of carriages and street vendors’ stalls which transported into two trucks. In addition, one street vendor had to be secured due to fighting when being controlled.

“The operation results two trucks loaded with carriages and street vendors’ stalls. We also had secured one street vendor, but he has been released after made agreement letter,” stated Rusmayadi.

Meanwhile, Head of Central Jakarta Transportation Sub-Department Monitoring and Control Section, Harlem Simanjuntak, informed that after the illegal parking control done by his ranks, as many as 289 motorcycles and seven cars got their tire valves removed.

“We also towed two cars and made dossiers for three cars,” he told.