People Accuse Front and Makassar Port Peddlers Protest Local Parliament

(Tribun-Makassar) - Peddlers from Makassar Port and a number of students from the People Accuse Front (FRM) protested in front of Makassar provincial house of representatives (DPRD) on Friday (1/8)

Protesters came from various groups such as the National Students' League for Democracy (LMND), National Front of Indonesian Labour Struggle (FNPBI) and Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI) South Sulawesi.

They protested against port authority's - PT Pelindo IV - forcible and inhuman relocation against them, which was carried out rather violently by security personnel in cooperation with the state owned liner, PT Pelni.

The peddlers did not object being relocated as long as they were given a good location or allowed to sell while keeping their surrounding clean.

The Provincial Parliament's Commission A Chairperson, A Yusuf Gunco, promised to summon representatives from Pelindo and Makassar Municipal. "Peddlers are welcomed to do business as long as they abide the rules and keep everything clean while waiting for the result of a meeting to be held next Tuesday," he said.

PT Pelindo IV General Manager, Arusi Rahman, explains that the relocation was done to visually improve and arrange port area as well as to transform Makassar Port as an international port.