Better security needed for Jakarta taxi drivers<\/p>\n
By Ridwan M. Sijabat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The body of Syamsul Bahri, a 40-year-old
\nPresident taxi driver, was found in a secluded spot in Bekasi
\nlast October. His taxi was discovered three kilometers away.<\/p>\n
Rasidami, a 40-year-old Kosti Jaya taxi driver, died following
\na struggle with a 16-year-old youth who robbed him of a small
\namount of money. The youth is currently serving a 15-year jail
\nsentence at the Salemba Correctional Institution in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Syamsul and Rasidami were two of the 12 taxi drivers who were
\nkilled during robberies last year. In the second half of 1996
\nalone, there were 32 robberies of taxi drivers, cause enough for
\nmost taxi drivers to fear for their lives when they were on the
\njob. They were also concerned that the number of such robberies
\nwould increase in the future, unless preventive actions were
\ntaken.<\/p>\n
Lukman, a driver for Dian taxi, described how difficult it was
\nfor taxi drivers to discern robbers from ordinary passengers.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible for us to screen our passengers. Anyone can
\nhail our taxis,\" he told The Jakarta Post while waiting for
\npassengers at the Lebak Bulus bus terminal in South Jakarta
\nrecently. \"How can we know robbers from ordinary passengers?\"<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing for us is that we serve the
\npassengers and get the fare in return, so we can make the daily
\nRp 50,000 rental fee to be handed over to the taxi company,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hamonangan Sinaga, 29, a driver for President taxi, said
\ndrivers are vulnerable because the robbers usually operate in
\ngroups; one sits in the front beside the driver, while the others
\nsit in the back and threaten him.<\/p>\n
The robbers usually order the driver to take them to deserted
\nplaces, where they can easily overpower him.<\/p>\n
Hidayat, a driver for Gamya taxi, lamented over the great
\nrisks that taxi drivers have to face, even though their hard work
\nyielded only a small amount of money.<\/p>\n
\"A taxi driver has Rp 300,000 at most in their pocket. He
\ncould be tortured or even murdered by robbers for that amount of
\nmoney. On the other hand, the robbers are also risking their
\nlives because they could be caught and killed by an angry mob.
\nThey could also be sent to jail,\" he said. \"All that risk for
\nsuch a small amount of money.\"<\/p>\n
Many taxi drivers have escaped death with the help of passers-
\nby or other taxi drivers who happened to be in the vicinity of a
\nrobbery scene. Police and other security officers have also
\nplayed a role in handling and helping reduce robberies of taxi
\ndrivers, according to Hidayat.<\/p>\n
Hidayat, a senior high school graduate, realizes that driving
\na taxi is not only risky, but will not make him rich. Like
\nLukman, Hidayat said he would have chosen \"a better job\" had he
\npossessed the skills or academic degree for it.<\/p>\n
Sony, 27, a driver for Citra taxi, admitted that police could
\nnot control taxi driver robberies alone. The companies, taxi
\nowners, police and taxi drivers themselves should jointly
\ncooperate and find ways to better protect taxi drivers.<\/p>\n
\"Taxi drivers should be trained in skills to handle emergency
\nsituations and police should increase their level of alertness so
\nthey are better able to handle crimes against taxi drivers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sony also suggested that all cabs be equipped with a radio and
\na small lamp on the taxi roof which functions as an alarm.<\/p>\n
Endarto, an employee of a private company, suggested that taxi
\ncompanies install glass partitions separating drivers from
\npassengers; communication between drivers and costumers can be
\nconducted through a radio, he said.<\/p>\n
Taxis in London have used such equipment, which has proven to
\nbe effective in reducing robberies of taxi drivers, he said.<\/p>\n
Amarullah, who frequently uses taxis, said a ticket or coupon
\nsystem could prevent robberies.<\/p>\n
\"Passengers can pay with tickets or coupons,\" he said. He said
\nhe was convinced that the method would reduce robberies, provided
\nthat the tickets are made available in public places such as bus
\nstations, campuses, malls, department stores and offices.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, a former Jakarta metropolitan
\npolice chief and member of the National Commission on Human
\nRights, agreed that the safety of taxi drivers depends on the
\njoint efforts of the taxi companies, drivers and police.<\/p>\n
He agreed that all taxies should be equipped with glass
\npartitions and call radios.<\/p>\n
He said some taxi firms, in cooperation with the city police,
\nhad tried to better protect their drivers by installing emergency
\nlights on the taxis. This, however, was found ineffective because
\npolice officers were not always available along all streets in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
He said the coupon system could be a good alternative to
\nreduce the number of robberies, but he believed that partitions
\nand radio communication would be the most effective means.<\/p>\n
Loebby Loqman, a law expert at the University of Indonesia,
\nadvocated harsher penalties for robbers.<\/p>\n
\"We should impose stiffer punishments on the robbers so they
\nwill learn that human lives are much more valuable than the Rp
\n100,000 to Rp 300,000 they seize from the drivers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Companies<\/p>\n
Taxi companies claim they are aware of all the risks their
\ndrivers face, so they have made efforts to better protect them.<\/p>\n
For example, the Blue Bird taxi company has installed a hidden
\nalarm and microphone in each cab. Once the system is activated,
\nthe dispatchers at the taxi pools can monitor the location of a
\ntaxi.<\/p>\n
In spite of these measures, one of its drivers was robbed and
\nkilled recently.<\/p>\n
Mubha Kahar Muang, director of PT Citra Transpor Nusantara,
\nwhich operates 1,000 taxis, believed taxi drivers would be better
\nprotected if police increased their patrols and the authorities
\ninstalled more street lights.<\/p>\n
Mubha said the design of cabs in Indonesia makes it difficult
\nto install glass partitions separating drivers from passengers.<\/p>\n
\"The cars would not be comfortable to ride in. I'm afraid it
\nwill be stuffy. Also, I wonder if the situation has become that
\nserious that we need to install such a glass partition.\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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