Raid against street vendors in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, Thursday (7/17), did not only cause fistfights between the officers and street vendors, but also marred with arguments between Acting Central Jakarta Mayor Rustam Effendi and Head of Tanah Abang Fire Department Office A Yuliadi. The reason was because Yuliadi was alleged has accommodated the street vendors in his office.

We’re having trouble controlling (street vendors), don’t you take it easy looking for advantages from illegal street vendors

“We’re having trouble controlling (street vendors), don’t you take it easy looking for advantages from illegal street vendors. I will check why this fire department office can be used as area for street vendors. I will ask Central Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department to explain this matter,” stated Effendi to Yuliadi.

On the other hand, Yuliadi denied if said his ranks accommodating the street vendors. Those street vendors have been prohibited to sell in his office for many times, but they ignored it.

“We have forbid them, but they kept selling. If we prohibited them, there would be clash. We did not accommodate them,” he asserted.

According to Yuliadi, those street vendors had been selling in his office since early Ramadan. But, his party could not do much because they were afraid of clash if they dispelled the street vendors. Even so, he stressed that he never supports his office being used as location for street vendors trading or keeping their goods.

“I dare to be responsible. We never receive compensation whatsoever from the street vendors. We were only thinking of our safety,” he uttered.