Becak drivers participate in story-telling competition<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Could story-telling become an alternative occupation for becak
\n(pedicab) drivers whose vehicles have been seized by the city
\nadministration?<\/p>\n
Not quite, according to some of the drivers, but participating
\nin a story-telling competition held by the Ministry of National
\nEducation on Saturday was an interesting way to gain new
\nexperience.<\/p>\n
The competition was part of the ministry's bazaar in
\ncelebration of International Literacy Day, which fell on Sept. 8.<\/p>\n
\"It was fun, I got to be with my friends, and we could tell
\nour stories,\" said one pedicab driver, Suhendar, who went to give
\nsupport to his competing friends.<\/p>\n
Of the 40 people who attended, mostly pedicab drivers from
\nacross Jakarta, eight participated in the story-telling
\ncompetition, which rewarded the winner with a trophy, instant
\nnoodles, an energy drink and Rp 10,000 for transport money.<\/p>\n
The winner, Sunardi, a pedicab driver from Central Java, told
\nthe audience how his becak was seized before he'd even paid off
\nthe vehicle.<\/p>\n
\"Now, I haven't got a clue about how I'm going to provide for
\nmyself,\" he said, adding that he now takes odd jobs that come his
\nway, such as construction work.<\/p>\n
According to the organizer, Azwina Aziz Muraza, her team was
\ndispersed throughout the city to invite the pedicab drivers to
\ntake part.<\/p>\n
\"We try to make them understand that story-telling could be an
\nalternative profession,\" she said, adding that she called upon
\nthe drivers not to stage demonstrations against the city
\nadministration's raids.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso and Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar
\nHamzah, who were invited to take part in a dialogue with the
\nbecak drivers, failed to attend the event.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has repeatedly pledged to continue the crack down on
\nbecak until the capital was totally free of pedicabs.<\/p>\n
Dozens of becak drivers last week filed a lawsuit with the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court against Sutiyoso over the crack
\ndown.<\/p>",
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