The construction of a commercial area reserved for street vendors at the Indonesian Restaurants and Parks Association (IRTI) parking lot at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta is near to completion.

The city administration started the construction of the commercial area '€” which is to be called Lenggang Jakarta (Jakarta Leisure Spot) '€” earlier this year in order to provide space for street vendors to sell their wares. Although prohibited, vendors usually sneak into the Monas park.

The city has been struggling to stop the vendors from entering the park, but they have been persistent and return even after being evicted more than once. On weekends, the number of illegal vendors reportedly reaches 7,000.

During a hot afternoon on Sunday, hundreds of street vendors were seen all around the Monas grounds. Visitors were seen haggling with vendors selling T-shirts, while children waited impatiently to take their turn buying iced drinks.

Most of the vendors were selling their goods under shady trees where many visitors came to have picnics and rest. Meanwhile, the incomplete, concrete-paved IRTI commercial area seemed barren in comparison.

Mother-of-three Amina told The Jakarta Post that she had been selling nasi pecel '€” a sampler plate with small amounts of rice, fried chicken, blanched vegetables, tofu, rice noodles and peanut sauce '€” at Monas three times a week since 2008.

Although the Public Order Agency raided the compound once or twice a week to prevent street vendors from entering, she said she would continue to sell at Monas for as long as she could.

'€œWhen officers raid the area I just run for it. What else can I do? My family and I need to eat. My children are still young,'€ Amina said, adding that she came to Monas at 5:30 a.m. in order to sneak past the officers.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Gimin said that he only came to Monas when there were events held there because the security guards were more relaxed.

'€œI only come here once a week. I'€™d rather just not come here than be chased by police officers,'€ the shumai seller said.

Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said that after the revamp, the commercial area would have kiosks for 339 vendors.

'€œWe have selected 339 vendors to sell at the IRTI commercial area. These vendors are those who usually sell at the Monas park illegally,'€ Ahok told reporters at City Hall recently.

Neither Amina nor Gimin said they were selected to sell at the IRTI commercial area.

The commercial area, Ahok said, was almost complete. Each kiosk is seven square meters wide and is equipped with a sink as well as built-in tables and cabinets. Ahok went on to say that all 339 vendors must occupy the kiosks before the end of the year.

'€œWe want the 339 vendors to start selling at their designated kiosks as soon as possible,'€ Ahok said, adding that food and beverage vendors would receive culinary and sanitation training from the Rekso Group, which also built the kiosks as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

Ahok further said that the vendors would simultaneously be able to sell and receive the training.

'€œWe want the food and beverages to be healthy and clean,'€ he said.

In order to prevent street vendors from selling in the park, Ahok said that officers from the Public Order Agency would guard Monas'€™ entry gates.

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