Ahead of Christmas and New Year 2015, hundreds of parcel sellers return to besiege Cikini area, Menteng, Central Jakarta. Many of them even set up stalls on the sidewalks.

We give them time to trade up to one day before Christmas. After that, we will sterilize Cikini area from activities that hinder the public

As a result, the area becomes chaotic and pedestrians had to walk on roadside. Traffic flows also become hindered because the parcel sellers parked their vehicles on the side of the road.

Based on beritajakarta.com observations, the parcel sellers spread in two locations. Some of them are selling in front of Cikini Gold Center Market, while some others are on Jalan Pegangsaan, precisely under train rails overpass.

“We give them time to trade up to one day before Christmas. After that, we will sterilize Cikini area from activities that hinder the public,” stated Head of Menteng Sub-District, Bondan Diah Ekowati, Friday (12/12).

According to Ekowati, her party had controlled the parcel sellers before. At that time, they were asked to move to Cikini Gold Center Market or Johar Baru Market. However, the sellers rejected the offer because they reasoned those markets were far and deserted from buyers.

Meanwhile, Adrin Tando, Director of PT Makna Tera as the management party of Cikini Gold Center Market, disclosed that the parcel sellers who sell outside of Cikini Gold Center Market have made the earnings of parcel sellers inside the market declining.

“We are ready to provide a place on the 5th floor for the (parcel) sellers (outside). It is free of charge until the end of year,” he said.