Medan minivan drivers protest against illegal levies<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Hundreds of drivers and owners of public minivans remained in
\ntheir offices in Medan on Tuesday, some even choosing not to work
\ntemporarily despite their absence from the road on the previous
\nday, when they gathered before the North Sumatra governor's
\noffice to launch a protest against unfair levies.<\/p>\n
Affiliated with the Public Transport Drivers and Operators
\nAssociation (Kesper AU), they were calling for a reduction in the
\nmotor vehicle tax (PKB), as well as complaining about extortion
\nby local gangs and illegal corporate levies.<\/p>\n
Kesper AU chairman Manahan Hutagalung told The Jakarta Post
\nthat, so far, public minivan (angkot) operators and drivers in
\nthe city had been subjected to a 0.9 percent PKB rate based on
\nthe motor vehicle price. It was later discovered that the rate,
\neffective as of the date of the latest fare increase several
\nmonths back, was not being applied in practice.<\/p>\n
Although a regional by-law dictates that the tax rate should
\nbe set at 1.5 percent, and despite the provincial
\nadministration's decision to put it at 0.9 percent to lessen the
\ntax burden, \"in practice angkot drivers and owners have to pay
\nPKB at a rate far higher than 0.9 percent. Since February 2000,
\nthe tax has increased by 60 to 70 percent,\" said Manahan.<\/p>\n
Based on the present rate, they are required to pay around Rp
\n120,000 a year, but in reality they are charged Rp 190,000 a
\nyear, for the lowest motor vehicle price and cylinder capacity.
\nIf the car is the latest model, they must spend Rp 1 million in
\nPKB a year.<\/p>\n
According to him, the high tax is not proportional to the
\nincome of drivers, let alone the illegal levies imposed by
\ncertain companies and gangs.<\/p>\n
Corporate levies on drivers in the form of contributions are
\nfixed on the basis of 25 days a month, ranging from Rp6,000 to Rp
\n20,000. \"They must pay contributions though they have more days
\noff,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
In addition, criminal gangs charge Rp 2,000 per driver daily,
\nplacing further strain on the angkot drivers' meager income. With
\ntheir gross income of only Rp 25,000-30,000 daily, some of them
\nhire minivans at the daily rental fee of between Rp 70,000 and Rp
\n80,000.<\/p>\n
He admitted that most angkot drivers frequently forced 12-14
\npassengers into their vans even though the legal capacity of an
\nEspass Daihatsu van was only eight.<\/p>\n
\"This is a mistake and may endanger passengers, but they have
\nto earn some money to survive. They do that just to make ends
\nmeet,\" argued Manahan.<\/p>\n
In response to the protest, the North Sumatra regional
\nadministration plans to hold another meeting on Thursday to deal
\nwith the problem, by also inviting relevant agencies like the
\nhighway transport agency, the traffic police, the transport
\ninsurance company and the regional revenue office.<\/p>\n
\"Unless the regional government responds to our complaints,
\nmore drivers will be launching a total strike,\" the Kesper AU
\nchairman said.<\/p>",
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