Drivers oppose plan to phase out 'bemos'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most of the city's bemo (three-wheeled motorized
\nvehicles) drivers objected yesterday to the administration's plan
\nto replace the vehicles with other types of vehicles this month.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot afford to pay the downpayment for the new
\nvehicles,\" Tarimo, a bemo driver based at the Manggarai terminal,
\ntold The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
Tarimo, who gained full support from his fellow bemo drivers,
\nsaid the plan would only serve to benefit large-scale
\nbusinessmen at the expense of the little people such as him and
\nhis friends.<\/p>\n
He said they don't believe that the Land Transport
\nOrganization (Organda) will fight for their interests.<\/p>\n
\"There have been many instances in the past when the
\norganization only defended a few people,\" Tarimo said.<\/p>\n
Another driver, Silaen, agreed with Tarimo, saying that the
\ncity administration should take the fate of their families into
\nconsideration. \"If bemos are to be completely removed from the
\nstreets we will be jobless. And this will be terrible for us
\nsince most of us are the only breadwinners in our families.\"<\/p>\n
Instead of phasing out bemos he suggested that the drivers
\nshould make some changes to their vehicles to make them more
\nappealing.<\/p>\n
\"I think the drivers would agree to paint them all the same
\ncolor. We can probably paint the vehicles yellow,\" Silaen said.<\/p>\n
He said that instead of removing all bemos the city
\nadministration should only remove the vehicles which have no
\nlicenses.<\/p>\n
\"Forty percent to fifty percent of the vehicles are operating
\nwithout licenses. Most of them come from Bogor, West Java,
\nMalang, East Java and Medan, North Sumatra ,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But, Silaen added as the little people he and fellow drivers
\ncould do nothing if the city administration insists on going
\nahead with the plan.<\/p>\n
The drivers earn an average of Rp 15,000 (US$6.52) to Rp
\n30,000 a day.<\/p>\n
The plan was announced on Thursday by the head of the city
\nLand Transport Control Agency (DLLAJ), JP Sepang who said the
\ngovernor had issued the necessary instruction to back up the
\nplan.<\/p>\n
Sepang disclosed that a type of minivan would probably replace
\nthe bemos. (04\/bas)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drivers-oppose-plan-to-phase-out-bemos-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}