Newspaper vendors feted

FOR Agus, 27, being able to take a day off to spend time with his eight-month old daughter, Syaula, even during an official holiday such as Friday's, is a luxury.

"I WORK seven days a week, usually 12 hours a day," said Agus, who earns Rp 1.2 million a month selling newspapers and magazines at a stall in Cilincing, North Jakarta. "If not, I wouldn't be able to afford Syaula's formula."

Agus, who worked for only half a day on Friday, was one of the estimated eight thousand people, comprising mainly print media vendors and carriers, who packed the Istora Arena in Senayan, Central Jakarta, for Friday's "Loper's Day".

Loper is the Indonesian term for people who distribute print media, such as newspapers and magazines, to readers' hands, covering vendors who sell at traffic lights to carriers who deliver door-to-door during the mornings.

Organizers called the event as a "love-fest" to honor and appreciate the vendors, which account for around 50,000 people working in the Greater Jakarta area.

"This day is dedicated to you, our beloved vendors," said Laris Naibaho, the organizer of the event. "We appreciate what you do, not just today, but on every single day."

During the three-hour event, which was free of charge, the vendors were showered with food, a hymn and a poem created in their honor, musical performances, door prizes, with the grand prize being a Hajj pilgrimage for two, and even an allowance of Rp 20,000, just for being there.

"We are often marginalized, so an appreciation like this feels marvelous," said Agus, who has been selling newspapers since he was laid off from his job at a ceramics factory in 1998, because of the economic crisis.

During the event, Laris Naibaho, who also owns a large newspaper agency in South Jakarta, declared the formation of a national foundation for the vendors, aimed at improving their welfare.

"We will protect your rights and livelihoods," Laris told the crowd, who gave him a thunderous applause.

About seven thousand of the crowd were vendors and their families and the remaining thousand were representatives from newspaper distribution agencies, publishers and the city administration.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, who couldn't be present because he was attending the Lake Toba Summit in North Sumatra, sent an address that was read by the Mayor of Central Jakarta, Muhayat.

In the address, Sutiyoso acknowledged that the vendors were a vital part of the city's economy, helping reduce unemployment and having a pivotal role in the supply chain.

However, the governor gave a subtle warning, which was implicitly understood by most of the vendors, saying "My beloved vendors, don't forget to keep Jakarta beautiful and don't work in dangerous spots."

Daryatin, who earns around Rp 30,000 daily selling newspapers on the street, said that from Sutiyoso's words it was clear that the city would continue to be vigilant trying to keep vendors off the streets.

"The (police) come by at least twice a day. It makes my life hard," said Daryatin, who had spent a week in jail for peddling newspapers at traffic lights. "All I want to do is earn an honest income."

Sumber : The Jakarta Post, 13 Maret 2005