Security intensified at N. Sumatra station

Police officers assisted by soldiers intensified security at Perbaungan railway station in Serdang Bedagai regency, North Sumatra, Thursday to anticipate any new protests by vendors.

Security was intensified following a breakdown in talks between angry street vendors and the management of state-railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI).

Railway services in North Sumatra were paralyzed for more than 10 hours on Wednesday after street vendors blocked the tracks at Perbaungan and Tebing Tinggi stations as part of a protest after PT KAI banned street vendors from working on the trains.

Trains from Medan were canceled due to the protest, prompting hundreds of passengers to request reimbursement on their tickets.

The North Sumatra Police deployed at least 150 officers to help maintain security with military backup.

Railway services returned to normal on Thursday despite a crowd of protesters loitering near Perbaungan station.

The protesters, dominated by women, opened a public kitchen near the station and briefly blocked the railway tracks again on Thursday, but were dispersed by the police.

Serdang Bedagai Police chief of operations Comr. Binsar Aritonang said the police were ready to help open talks between the vendors and PT KAI, but their initiative had been rejected because the vendors did not trust the company.

“We initially hoped with our initiative there would be an agreement, but unfortunately it was turned down by the vendors,” Binsar said.

Perbaungang Police chief Adj. Comr. Marludin said that the intensified security was necessary to prevent the protesting vendors from conducting anarchic acts and from being penetrated by irresponsible parties.

PT KAI North Sumatra office spokesman Hasri said the company had requested help with security due to the many protesters gathering around the station.

“We didn’t know what to expect from the vendors at a time when nearly all of our trains are back in operation,” he said.

Hasri explained that his company had prohibited vendors from operating on trains since Jan. 1, 2012, for security reasons and for passenger convenience.

Many vendors initially ignored the ban, and PT KAI then forcefully applied it on Feb. 1, thereby prompting them to protest.

Masa Khairul, a representative of the vendors, said the ban was opposed because during their many years of operating on the trains, they had never created any problems nor annoyed passengers.

“What mistakes have the vendors made?” he queried.