Minibus drivers continue their sit-in strike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of drivers of the city minibuses
\ncontinued their sit-in strikes for the third consecutive day
\nyesterday but stranded commuters were no longer seen as of
\nyesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Many employees and school students, the main users of the
\npublic vehicles, were believed to have taken other forms of
\ntransportation even though they had to spend more time to reach
\ntheir destination.<\/p>\n
\"I've haven't been able to get to school for two days because
\nof the strike,\" said Dewi Lindawati, a high school student.<\/p>\n
Head of the terminal, Kasmir B. revealed that only 58 out of
\nthe 625 Metro Mini minibuses and 51 out of the 285 Kopaja
\nminibuses were operating that day. Worse, none of the 13 Koantas
\nBima were operating as yesterday evening.<\/p>\n
The drivers are protesting the new law, which sets fines of
\nbetween Rp 15,000 ($7) and Rp 150,000 (S75), not Rp 50,000 as
\nreported yesterday, for offenses ranging from failing to carry a
\ndriver's license, jaywalking and ignoring traffic signals.<\/p>\n
\"But there are not longer crowds of passengers stranded at
\nthis terminal as we saw on previous days,\" he said.<\/p>\n
One of the reasons for the improvement, in his opinion, was
\ndue to 45 police and military personnel that were deployed to
\nassist the DLLAJ employees to provide seats for the passengers.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto yesterday instructed Governor Surjadi
\nSoedirdja to continue the current action taken by the city
\nauthorities in handling the protesters and managing the problems
\ncaused by the strikes.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of city police and military personnel were deployed
\nto help guard or drive the minibuses, which have been left by
\ntheir drivers. Along with personnel from the City Traffic and
\nLand Transportation Agency (DLLAJ-DKI), they were also assigned
\nto change routes of available operating buses depending upon the
\npassengers' needs.<\/p>\n
No review<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the authorities stuck to their guns, saying that
\nthey would not review the new fine scale. The new fines are much
\nhigher than the previous scale and were the cause of the minibus
\ndrivers' strike.<\/p>\n
The government will not revoke the new fine scale although the
\nprotesters planned to continue striking, Minister of
\nTransportation Haryanto Dhanutirto insisted.<\/p>\n
The police, however, have yet to disclose the fate of 35
\nprotesters, consisting of drivers and unemployed, who have been
\nincarcerated since Tuesday for further questioning about their
\nrole in the strikes.<\/p>\n
According to Ratta, the city police are still questioning the
\n35 people.<\/p>\n
The one-star general refused to comment on a report saying
\nthat the number of people in police custody had risen to 85
\npeople as of Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
During a meeting with Governor Surjadi yesterday, President
\nSoeharto also ordered the authority to take persuasive approach
\nto the protesters.<\/p>\n
\"But those who are found guilty of subversive activities, such
\nas throwing stones or threatening other drivers to stop operating
\ntheir vehicles, must face the law,\" the President was quoted by
\nSurjadi as saying.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister Haryanto insisted that his office had no
\nplan to revoke the licenses of any transportation firms in
\nrelated with the strikes.<\/p>\n
Expressing concern over the strike, which had disturbed the
\npublic order, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said drivers who
\nincited the others to go on strike deserved punishment.<\/p>\n
He said that both authorities and drivers should improve their
\nlegal awareness.<\/p>\n
Zumrotin K. Soesilo, chairwoman of the Indonesian Consumer
\nFoundation, supported the government's decision to discipline
\ndrivers, but added that the driver felt that they were not being
\ndealt with fairly.<\/p>\n
\"They think, 'Why do these police and official from the DLLAJ
\ngo by without sanction, while acting as illegal brokers of
\ndrivers' licenses and route permits, while drivers have to pay Rp
\n150,000 for violations?,'\" Soesilo said.<\/p>\n
\"We are optimistic that violating drivers will feel obliged to
\npay fines if they see a higher level of professionalism from
\nofficials,\" she said. (bsr\/yns\/anr\/sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minibus-drivers-continue-their-sit-in-strike-1447893297",
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