As many as 18 chicken slaughterhouses in Johar Baru Sub-District, Central Jakarta, were sealed by officers of local Livestock and Fishery Departments on Tuesday (10/21). The sealing is conducted because the owners refused to be move to relocation sites provided by the city administration.

We did sealing because of many people complain the existence of those illegal business places

Those illegal places are spread in Cempaka Putih Timur, Galur, and Kampung Rawa Urban Villages. During sealing process, a riot had happened between officers with business owners.

They adamantly refused to be relocated because they claim already had license and their business did not disturb the surrounding environment. But officers could forcibly seal such business places, which were marked by the sealing boards.

"We have the license thus we refuse to be relocated. Moreover, the relocation site is small and not fit for our business," exclaimed Fredy (45), one of chicken shelter and slaughterhouse owners.

According to Ishom Setiawan, Head of Central Jakarta Livestock and Fishery Sub-Department, in accordance with Acting Jakarta Governor's instruction and Governor Regulation No. 5/2007 mention that maintaining and slaughtering poultry in each area is strictly prohibited.

The animals included in the category of poultry are wild duck, village chicken, quail, and dove.

"We did sealing because of many people complain the existence of those illegal business places," he told.

Prior to sealing, his sub-department had sent warning letter to the owners to immediately move in relocation sites provided by the city administration in Rawa Kepiting (East Jakarta) and Petukangan (South Jakarta).

"The sealing aims to anticipate and prevent avian flu and other viruses from poultry," he stressed.