Bekasi – A number of traditional "family" market vendors at Kota Harapan Indah, Bekasi, staged a hunger strike in front of the Bekasi municipality office Monday.

Eleven merchants and three student activists joined the protest. They urged the local administration to take over the management of the 15-year-old market so 417 vendors could continue their operations.

The family market, with a total 4,000 square meter area, has been barricaded by a fence since Oct 15. The market's management has asked the vendors to move to a modern market in Tarumajaya district five kilometers from the current location. The relocation suggestion was rejected by the market vendors.

"I'd go on a hunger strike before letting my children starve," 43-year-old vegetable vendor Kasyuit said, as quoted by beritajakarta.com.