'It's getting tougher for people here'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/26/2006 3:48 PM  |  Jakarta

Various spectacular activities have been organized to celebrate Jakarta's 479th anniversary this year, but many residents are feeling less than festive. The Jakarta Post asked two why they weren't enjoying the party.

Narsah, 63, is a sidewalk fruit vendor at Palmerah, West Jakarta. He lives in Rawa Belong, also in West Jakarta:

I'm not at all keen on the city's anniversary celebrations. Every year during this time I have to clear out my wares because the local administration wants to tear down stalls like mine to give the impression that the city is clean and orderly.

We are only allowed to open again a few days after the anniversary, but it's annoying and problematic since I have to spend money to set up a new stall.

I've been a vendor here for more than 15 years now, and I know what public order officials are like. They push us around, but offer no solutions.

Ainur, 57,is a housewife who lives in Petamburan, Central Jakarta:

I don't have any special feelings about Jakarta's anniversary celebrations, but when my children were smaller they enjoyed the festivities very much.

They'd always ask to be taken to the Jakarta Fair, but we could only go when there was extra money. My husband was only a construction worker and we didn't have much money for things like that.

Now it's the other way around, my son sometimes takes me there instead.

Things are changing in the city, it's getting tougher for people living here. Everything is expensive, especially transportation. That's why I only go out when it's absolutely necessary.

--The Jakarta Post

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.