Dozens of traditional traders in Sorong City, West Papua Province, Tuesday (27/9/2022) came to the Mayor's Office to express their frustration because government policies that were considered unfair caused their wares to be empty of buyers, which was because the government was slow in controlling and relocating. traders in traditional markets to modern markets that have been built by the government.

They came with all their merchandise such as vegetables, fresh fish and other garden products and immediately peddled their wares in the main hall of the Sorong Mayor's Office. Where they arrived also mainly wanted to meet the Acting Mayor, George Yarangga.

While waiting for the presence of the Acting Mayor, these traders shouted their frustration at the injustice that had befallen them. Not only that, these traders who are dominated by women also continue to offer their wares to government employees at the mayor's office.

The action of the traditional traders at the Sorong Mayor's Office had caused a stir among the employees who were at work.

A number of high-ranking police and military officers as well as local government officials who arrived at the scene attempted to approach and discuss with the traders. They asked the merchants not to put their wares inside the Government Office.

According to Paulina, one of the traditional market traders admitted that as long as they moved to the modern market which has been provided by the government for approximately two months, they continued to lose money. Because their wares they sell are empty of buyers. This is because there are still many other traders who still survive and sell in traditional markets which were initially agreed to be closed by the Government and the traders.

"We have a demonstration for Mr (Acting) Mayor and also listen to us the people, because we are in the modern market, we have followed the government's will and policy so that we move to the modern market, but in fact for about two months we have been selling since the modern market was inaugurated on Last August 2022, we suffered a very large loss. None of our merchandise was sold. Who wants to be responsible, "said Paulina.

Regarding this issue, Paulina on behalf of other traders asked for the firmness of the Acting Mayor of Sorong to discipline traders who are still selling in traditional markets to be immediately transferred to modern ones that have been built by the Government so that all traders' activities are centered on the modern market.

Paulina also hopes that the Acting Mayor will firmly dismantle traditional markets that have previously been agreed to be closed. According to Paulina, this is also so that buyers can come to the modern market.

"We hope (the Acting) Mayor to be able to bring order to traders and dismantle traditional markets where there are still many traders selling in the market. In the end, buyers don't shop at modern markets. They prefer to shop at traditional markets, which should be according to the agreement. together with the government, the traditional market must be closed. And all traders are transferred to the modern market so that everything is focused on trading in the modern market, "said Paulina.

According to Paulina, as a traditional trader, she and her fellow traders had to seek business capital loans from moneylenders because it was very difficult for government banks in the area to provide business capital loans for them. Thus, if their trade is empty of buyers, it will be difficult for them to pay for business capital loans, plus the interest on business capital loans is quite high, so they can only surrender.

"All of us who are selling in the modern market have not yet made a profit, in fact we continue to lose. Even though we are currently selling, we have to take a business capital loan from a cooperative whose loan interest is very high. This is very, very difficult for us," said Paulina.

"We hope once again that the Mr (Acting) Mayor immediately takes action to bring order to the traders in the old market and immediately dismantle the old market which was originally planned to be demolished by the Government. We don't want to be in trouble like this. Will the mayor not pity us? this little community," he said.

The actions of the traders did not stop there, because they were annoyed that their aspirations were not responded to by the Acting Mayor of Sorong, these traders immediately threw all their merchandise into the main hall of the Mayor's office.

The traders also burned a number of used car tires in the front yard of the mayor's office as a form of protest over the local government's slow response to the traders' aspirations.

The situation was finally brought under control after Assistant III Regional Secretary of the Sorong City Government, Thamrin Tajudin met the traders.

Thamrin emphasized that the Government will immediately take steps to bring order to the traders who are still selling in traditional markets. The Government will also immediately relocate the traders to modern markets so that all traders' activities are concentrated in the modern markets that have been built by the Government.

After receiving clarification from Government Officials, the traders immediately cleaned up their merchandise which they had already squandered in the main hall of the Sorong Mayor's Office.

The traders then ended their action and dispersed in an orderly manner. Returned to their respective homes.