South Jakarta Police adopts ‘friendly’ approach to evictions

Around 150 Public Order Officers filled Jl. Mahakam in South Jakarta, in an operation to clear its vendor-packed sidewalks on Tuesday.

"We want to stress that this is not an eviction, but regulating," Public Order Officer chief Sulistiarto said, adding that it was among efforts to improve public perceptions of his institution, giving it a more friendly image.

He added that he had taken careful steps to provide information and issue warning letters to vendors before they were forcibly removed from sidewalks.

South Jakarta Deputy Mayor H. Annas Effendi, who was present to monitor the operation, thanked the vendors for their cooperation, and said many of the vendors had dismantled their stalls themselves, leaving officers to tidy up.

However, no compensation would be provided to the vendors, he said.

"If we offer compensation to everyone who breaks the law, imagine how much compensation we would have to provide."

Sulistiarto said the tightening of regulations on sidewalks was an integrated effort involving the district's hygiene, landscaped gardens and general work agency.

He added that the clean up was not only focused on illegal stalls but on everything that breaks the law, including illegal banners and billboards that officers also were beginning to remove on Friday.

"Every breach of the law will be acted upon. There will be no political intervention," he said.