City to be free of 'becak' by April 1: Official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration started netting any
\nbecak (pedicabs) operating on any street in the capital beginning
\nlast Tuesday in an attempt to become a becak-free city as of
\nApril, an official said Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"We expect there will be no more becaks in the capital after
\nMarch 31,\" Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi
\ntold reporters at City Hall.<\/p>\n
Kahfi, however, gave no details on the number of pedicabs that
\nalready have been netted in the past three days<\/p>\n
According to him, some of the netted pedicabs -- under the
\napproval of the owners or drivers -- have been converted into
\nvegetable carts funded by the authorities.<\/p>\n
The drivers then are allowed to pedal their new carts to sell
\nvegetables in housing complexes.<\/p>\n
According to City Bylaw number 11 issued in 1988, pedicabs are
\nbanned in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Kahfi said the decision to hook three-wheeled pedicabs in the
\ncapital until March 31 was made after the deadline on the city
\nadministration's offer to purchase pedicabs expired on Monday.<\/p>\n
Under the offer, which was imposed to show the authorities'
\ntolerance, all becak drivers or owners here were given the chance
\nto sell their pedicabs to the administration at Rp 250,000 (some
\nUS$35) each.<\/p>\n
The city administration also offered transportation allowances
\nworth Rp 50,000 for each pedicab driver who wished to return to
\nhis hometown.<\/p>\n
According to Muhayat, an officer at the City Hall's Public
\nRelation division, there are still over 6,000 pedicabs in the
\ncity.<\/p>\n
On Thursday last week, six pedicab drivers claiming to
\nrepresent some 130 fellow drivers lodged a civil lawsuit at the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court against Governor Sutiyoso,
\ndemanding the governor allow pedicabs to operate in limited
\nzones, such as housing complexes and markets, in the capital.<\/p>\n
Court official U.Dj. Sidabalok, who met with the pedicab
\ndrivers and their lawyers, said his office would open the hearing
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the city administration announced that it has
\ncooperated with at least four beverage firms to help solve the
\nmatter by providing chances for the ex-pedicab drivers to sell
\ntheir drinks.<\/p>\n
Head of the city's Manpower Agency, Sukesti Martono, said the
\noffer would end coincidental with the March 31 deadline.<\/p>\n
He added that the offer was aimed initially at jobless people
\nin the capital since last December.<\/p>\n
The four companies involved in the project are PT Coca-Cola
\nAmatil Indonesia, PT Sinar Sosro, PT Indo Meiji Ice Cream and PT
\nAqua.<\/p>\n
\"The pedicab drivers could apply as (street and kiosk) traders
\nfor the firms' products,\" Sukesti said.<\/p>\n
Those who have joined in the scheme have enjoyed daily
\nearnings on average of some Rp 36,000 per person, he explained.<\/p>\n
So far, Sukesti said, some 200 pedicab drivers have registered
\nto participate in the project.<\/p>\n
Aside from the scheme, the city administration has also
\noffered to pedicab drivers and jobless alternative works, such as
\nvegetable vendors, mobile food and drinks traders.<\/p>\n
On June 25 last year, Governor Sutiyoso announced that his
\nadministration would allow pedicab drivers to operate in the city
\nin an attempt to help the poor people to survive during the time
\nof hardship.<\/p>\n
The decision abruptly motivated some 7,000 people to begin
\npedaling their becak in the streets of the capital, which then
\nforced the governor to reverse his decision.<\/p>\n
He then instructed the city's five mayoralties to ban the
\noperation of pedicabs beginning on June 30 which sparked a series
\nof protests from the drivers and owners. (05\/06)<\/p>",
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