Bus drivers protest against police<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The drivers of at least 20 Kopaja-502 buses
\nstopped plying the Kampung Rambutan - Tanah Abang route yesterday
\nin protest at police action against them they believe to be
\nexcessive and unfair.<\/p>\n
The strikers said police officers along the route often
\nticketed them without reason. They also claimed the officers
\ndemanded money for reasons they would not explain.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's action left hundreds of passengers, notably
\nstudents and those going to work, scrambling for other transport
\nalong Jl. Otista, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Worst affected were people heading for Jl. Thamrin, Jl.
\nSudirman and the commercial district of Tanah Abang in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Kopaja operations manager Syarifuddin told Antara that the
\ndrivers were showing their disgust at the widespread illegal
\nlevies and the increasing incidence of ticketing, mostly by East
\nJakarta police officers, without reason.<\/p>\n
\"Some drivers are ticketed up to three times a day without the
\nofficers explaining why,\" he said.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang denied the claim
\nthat police officers had \"imposed pressure\" on the striking
\nKopaja drivers.<\/p>\n
\"I have checked on this,\" he told The Jakarta Post by
\ntelephone.<\/p>\n
He said the drivers' problems were connected to the issuance
\nof route permits which resulted in too many buses from different
\ncompanies serving the same route.<\/p>\n
Some striking drivers said yesterday they believed the police
\nofficers ticketing and asking them for money were those they
\ncomplained about during a March 26 dialog between Kopaja and the
\nCity Police.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe some individual officers are doing it again in
\nrevenge,\" said driver Binsar, 45.<\/p>\n
He said ticketing the same driver up to three times in a
\nsingle day was \"too much\" because drivers had to pay more than Rp
\n100,000 (US$13.33) to get their driving licenses and other
\ndocuments back. (pan\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-drivers-protest-against-police-1447893297",
"image": ""
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