Bus owners protest delay in fares hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Land Transportation
\nOwners (Organda) said it would mobilize its drivers for a street
\ndemonstration if the city's administration failed to promptly
\ndecide on a hike in bus fares.<\/p>\n
Organda's chairman, Aip Saifuddin, said on Tuesday that the
\ndrivers would stage a protest at the City Council to express
\ntheir demand if Governor Sutiyoso failed to respond to the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
\"We sent a letter to the city administration about the matter
\nyesterday (Monday). If we cannot get a reply in three days, we
\nwill ask our members to come to the council for a protest,\" Aip
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said Organda regretted Sutiyoso's statement late last month
\nthat the city administration had decided to delay the fares hike
\nuntil the completion of the General Assembly of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Members of the 700-seat Assembly will meet some time in
\nNovember to elect a new president and vice president and to
\nendorse the five-yearly State Policy Guidelines (GBHN).<\/p>\n
Dian Soegiarto, an executive from Kopaja minibus firm,
\nconfirmed the planned demonstration at the city council.<\/p>\n
\"We have informed the city police about the planned
\ndemonstration, to be held some time next week,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's latest statement contradicted his first
\nannouncement early last month that the fares hike would come into
\neffect in the first week of August.<\/p>\n
The city administration announced last week that Organda, City
\nLand Transportation Agency and the Indonesian Consumers
\nOrganization (YLKI) had agreed on a new bus fare structure.<\/p>\n
The proposal includes an increase in regular bus fare from Rp
\n300 (4 US cents) to Rp 500, an increase on non-airconditioned and
\nlimited bus (PATAS) fare from Rp 700 to Rp 900.<\/p>\n
The fare for minibuses will be increased to Rp 700 from Rp 500
\nand for air-conditioned PATAS buses from Rp 2,300 to Rp 2,500.
\nMeanwhile, special student fare for regular buses will be
\nincreased to Rp 200 from Rp 100.<\/p>\n
YLKI, however, denied last month that it had agreed to the new
\nfare structure. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bus-owners-protest-delay-in-fares-hike-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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