Jakarta officers remove vendors from car-free day, sparking debate

An incident during Jakarta's car-free day (CFD) event at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) has drawn significant attention online after footage showed Satpol PP officers removing street vendors. The action was perceived by some as excessive, leading to a public discussion about the enforcement of regulations.

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The important thing is that CFD has never allowed street vendors, it's been sterile. It just so happened that this vendor was a bit reckless.

Satriadi Gunawan, Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Satpol PP, explained that the event occurred on Sunday, May 24th, 2026. He emphasized that the areas designated for CFD have historically been free of street vendors, a rule he believes all vendors are aware of. "The important thing is that CFD has never allowed street vendors, it's been sterile. It just so happened that this vendor was a bit reckless," Satriadi stated.

According to Satriadi, officers asked the vendors to leave the CFD area. He described the interaction as humane and professional. However, the situation escalated when some members of the public intervened to defend the vendors, leading to a visible tension captured in some videos. Satriadi noted that officers provided explanations to these individuals, clarifying that most vendors understood the rules but some, possibly unfamiliar with CFD regulations, did not.

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Humane, and the vendors didn't object, but there was tension from citizens who didn't know. Citizens from outside Jakarta who have never experienced CFD, well, they don't understand either.

Satriadi maintained that his officers acted humanely and that the vendors themselves did not object to being removed. He attributed the public outcry to a misunderstanding among some attendees who were unaware of the long-standing prohibition of vendors during CFD. He assured that no vendor's goods were confiscated; officers merely asked them to vacate the designated zone. Satriadi reiterated that while selling is not entirely forbidden, vendors must adhere to regulations and avoid obstructing public pathways, especially in prominent areas like Sudirman-Thamrin during CFD events.

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Don't be on the sidewalk, and there are rights of road users that are disturbed, and zones on Sudirman-Thamrin which are premier areas. Especially during CFD, let alone traveling vendors, even those selling on the side are not allowed, let alone traveling coffee sellers who are there.