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Tanah Abang road closure part of Anies’ 'one-man show', councillor says
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Street vendors crowd Jl. Jatibaru Raya in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Dec. 26, 2017. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction at the City Council, Gembong Warsono, has urged Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to evaluate his decision to close Jl. Jatibaru Raya in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, to vehicles to accommodate street vendors.
“It was a unilateral, one-man show policy,” said Gembong on Friday. “The governor should have first coordinated with the Jakarta Police traffic division before implementing the policy.”
Previously, the Jakarta Police traffic division sent a recommendation letter to the governor requesting that he return the road to its previous state. The police also said the former education and culture minister should have discussed the regulation before passing it.
“The PDI-P faction reminded the governor a long time ago about potential law violations. At least two bylaws on spatial planning and public order, as well as one law on traffic, have been violated by closing the road,” Gembong said.
The politician, who backed former governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama during last year’s gubernatorial election, said he appreciated Cyber Indonesia’s decision to report Anies over the alleged law violation. “I think it is a positive move,” he said.
On Thursday night, community organization Cyber Indonesia reported Anies to the Jakarta Police over the road closure, saying the move violated Law No. 38/2004 on roads. Violators of the law could face 18 months in prison and a Rp 1.5 billion (US$105,000) fine.
