Tens of street vendors looked confused when they tried to enter National Monument (Monas) area through the east side gate next to Gambir Train Station. It happened because the gate was padlocked by the officers last night.

We lock the gate since last night and hold the key

As a result, those street vendors can only park their motorcycles and carts in front of the gate. Majority of them sell clothes, accessories, food, and soft drinks.

“We lock the gate since last night and hold the key,” stated Head of Monas Management Unit, Rini Hariani, Tuesday (12/9).

According to Hariani, the gate is padlocked because her party is overwhelmed in handling high numbers of street vendors in Monas.

“We suspect there is dirty cooperation between Monas’ security officers and the street vendors,” she said.

Previously, the street vendors were coming in and out of Monas area freely using the trade cards issued by a certain party. But now, only some of them recklessly enter Monas area through the sidelines of fences that have gotten loose.