500 'becak' drivers to meet Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 500 becak (pedicab) drivers will pedal to
\nMerdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, demanding the
\nPresident to help settle their dispute with city authorities.<\/p>\n
According to a statement from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC)
\nmade available to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, pedicab drivers
\nfrom the Greater Jakarta area plan to bring their problems to
\nPresident Abdurahman Wahid, who is also known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
"To the Indonesian President, we, the people of Indonesia
\nworking as pedicab drivers, want justice," the statement said.<\/p>\n
It said the rally would start at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n
The release, however, did not disclose what route the pedicab
\ndrivers would take to the presidential palace.<\/p>\n
According to City Bylaw No. 11 issued in 1988, pedicabs are
\nbanned in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi
\nannounced on Thursday that the city administration had begun to
\nstop pedicabs from operating on the capital's streets since last
\nweek in an attempt to eliminate them by April.<\/p>\n
"We expect there to be no more becak in the capital after
\nMarch 31," he said.<\/p>\n
He said some of the pedicabs -- under the approval of the
\nowners or drivers -- were converted to vegetable carts with
\nfunding from the authorities.<\/p>\n
But UPC, who often organizes rallies for the pedicab drivers,
\nsaid in its statement that officials from the city administration
\nrobbed the becak when drivers were asleep at night. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/500-becak-drivers-to-meet-gus-dur-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}