Protesting bus crews damage 8 vehicles<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eight vehicles were vandalized on Monday by some
\nof the hundreds of Metro Mini public minibuses who were staging a
\nheated rally on Jl. Bekasi Raya, East Jakarta, to protest the
\nillegal operation of vans serving their Tanjung Priok-Pulogadung
\nservice route.<\/p>\n
Two of the vehicles, both Isuzu Panther minivans, belonged to
\nthe operational unit of PT Metro Mini, a private firm that is
\njointly owned by several Metro Mini owners, while the other six
\nvehicles were privately-owned vehicles bearing no legal license
\nfor taking passengers.<\/p>\n
Four staff who drove the two minivans were actually attempting
\nto calm down the upset drivers, who angrily blocked the cars and
\nasked the four to leave the cars before pushing the vehicles into
\na ditch where they were staging the protest just in front of PT
\nUnited Tractor, some 400 meters from Pulogadung bus terminal
\nsince 6 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"The protesters were angry since the staff threatened to send
\nbig metromini buses to serve the stranded passengers today,\" said
\nAnwar, 50, one of the protesters.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of commuters heading for the Pulogadung terminal were
\nalso forced to walk after the vehicles they were riding were
\nordered by the police to return in the direction of Cempaka
\nPutih, some 1.5 kilometers from the protest site, in a bid to
\navoid a possible clash.<\/p>\n
No clashes were reported during the seven-hours protest but
\nthe protesters unfortunately occupied one of the lanes in the
\ntwo-lane street for parking their minibuses, creating severe
\ntraffic congestion on nearby streets for hours.<\/p>\n
Only a handful of police officers were seen watching the
\nprotesters from a distance.<\/p>\n
Arriving in around 60 Metro Mini minibuses, the protesters
\ndemanded the city administration ban all the private vehicles,
\nwhich have been illegally serving thousands of passengers to and
\nfrom Pulogadung terminal and the huge manufacturing complex of
\nNusantara Integrated Zone (KBN) in Cakung-Cilincing area, North
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
During the protest, the bus crew blocked any vehicles from
\nentering or leaving Jakarta's busiest inter-city bus terminal,
\ncausing a chaotic traffic situation in the crowded area.<\/p>\n
The KBN area, home to hundreds of export-oriented firms, is a
\nplace of work for thousands of people, most of whom reach the
\narea using transportation from Pulogadung and nearby Tanjung
\nPriok terminals.<\/p>\n
The presence of the unofficial transportation apparently
\ncaused great losses to the Metro Mini drivers and their
\nattendants.<\/p>\n
\"Our revenues dropped after the operation of the unofficial
\nvehicles. Unfortunately, the administration never banned them
\nfrom operating in the street,\" Soebagyo, coordinator of the
\nprotest, told reporters.<\/p>\n
According to the protesters, drivers of the illegal public
\nvehicles also charged their passengers Rp 300 higher than the Rp
\n700 rate set for the official minibuses.<\/p>\n
Separately, chief of the East Jakarta Police Sr. Supt.
\nSyafrudin Fabanyo said the protest was the responsibility of
\ncity's Traffic and Public Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ).<\/p>\n
\"I have called them to settle the protest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The protesters vowed to stage a similar protest in Tanjung
\nPriok terminal on Tuesday. The protesters dispersed peacefully at
\n1 p.m. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesting-bus-crews-damage-8-vehicles-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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