Jakarta – Despite a massive crackdown against hoodlums by the city administration, thugs are still operating freely in a number of markets in the city, extorting money from vendors and public transportation drivers.
Hoodlums are still rampant in Jakarta markets such as Tanah Abang textile hub and Senen market in Central Jakarta, Kebayoran Lama market in South Jakarta, and even in Rawa Bening precious stones market in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.
Traders and sidewalk vendors in those markets complained that the city's campaign against hoodlums, costing the city administration Rp 1 billion (US$910,000) in the past month, had not reduced the illegal fees imposed on them by various parties, including street thugs and organized gangs.
Samin, 35, a sidewalk toy seller at Tanah Abang, for instance, revealed on Friday that he still had to pay around Rp 5,000 a day to a number of thugs operating in the market.
Once, he said, he was badly beaten by four thugs after he gave them less money than what they demanded. "No other street traders dared to help me as they did not want to create problems with the thugs here," he said.
A similar story was shared by Benyamin, 49, a fruit juice vendor at Senen market. He said he and other vendors in the market had to allocate no less than Rp 5,000 a day each for several fees, including those paid to thugs. He said he earned about Rp 20,000 a day, but he could only take home Rp 15,000 a day.
He said he would rather pay the illegal fees than risk a surprise attack from hoodlums. "Once I refused to give them money as I had only two customers up until noon. But they did not understand. They went into a rage and broke all the glasses and overturned my pushcart," he said, adding that he had to spend Rp 200,000 to buy new glasses and repair the pushcart. He added that thugs were always quick to hide or escape if the police or other law enforcers conducted a raid at the market.
Dadang, 37, a fruit vendor at Kebayoran Lama market said that besides thugs, he had to pay illegal fees to a number of parties, including private market security personnel and local youth organizations. "I have to spend at least Rp 5,000 out of my daily income that ranges from Rp 15,000 up to Rp 25,000 only to feed hoodlums, market officers and security personnel," Dadang said.
About 20 meters away from Dadang, noodle vendor Lukman, 47, confirmed that he had to pay uang jago (security money) every day to a group of hoodlums. Several vendors at Rawa Bening precious stones market in Jatinegara also complained about the presence of hoodlums who continuously extorted money from them.
Soft drink seller Arjani, 45, said it was common for sidewalk vendors in Rawa Bening market to spare Rp 5,000 per day for several illegal fees, including those paid to thugs.
Safri, 25, a compact disc seller at Rawa Bening market supported Arjani's statement and said thugs charged him at least Rp 2,000 per day. "Thugs here are organized well by a group under the protection of certain police and TNI [Indonesian Military] officers. That's why no vendors here dare to refuse to pay Rp 1,000 or 2,000 per day to them," he said.