Riding the Corruption Express<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been listed as one of the world's most corrupt
\ncountries, a label that the experience I will share with you will
\ncorroborate.<\/p>\n
Graft cases adorn the front pages of the print media almost
\nevery day. Unfortunately, corruption on the train has not
\nattracted much of the media's attention, although this practice
\ncould endanger hundreds of train passengers. For just Rp 2,000
\nyou can ask to be dropped of at the train station of your
\nchoosing. One piece of advice, though. Never let the engineer
\nknow you are a "novice".<\/p>\n
I had a unique experience with this small form of graft on May
\n23, when I took the Pakuan express train that plies the Gambir-
\nBogor route. It happened 38 days before the fatal train crash
\nnear the Pasar Minggu railway station when three electric trains
\ncollided into one another. I have a suspicion that the lead train
\nin this crash, which was reportedly stationary at the time of the
\nincident, was dropping off some passengers -- not at the right
\nstation, mind you.<\/p>\n
At the time I was planning to attend a rehearsal for the play
\nSobrat at WS Rendra's Bengkel Teater in Cipayung, Depok. Dudi, a
\nfriend of mine and a member of the drama group, suggested that I
\nget off the train at Citayam station and then take a motorcycle
\ntaxi to the theater.<\/p>\n
When I took the Pakuan train, I did not know that unlike
\nregular trains that stop at every station along the Gambir-Bogor
\nroute, the Pakuan only stops in Bogor and Gambir. On Saturdays
\nand Sundays, it also makes a brief stop at the University of
\nIndonesia station.<\/p>\n
Because I was unfamiliar with the stations, when the Pakuan
\nmade a brief stop at the University of Indonesia station I
\napproached the conductor and told him that I wanted to get off at
\nCitayam. "Move to the front coach," the middle-aged conductor
\nsaid somewhat mysteriously.<\/p>\n
I complied. The train stopped briefly several times before it
\nreached Citayam. I wondered why the doors remained closed when it
\nstopped. The same thing happened at Citayam station, where I was
\nsupposed to exit the train.<\/p>\n
Depressed, I decided to enjoy the trip to Bogor, the final
\ndestination for the Pakuan. I waited at the Bogor station for
\nalmost two hours before my Pakuan began to chug back to Gambir in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
I was overwhelmed with despair because I did not know which
\nroute to take to reach Rendra's theater.<\/p>\n
So, when the Pakuan was heading back to Jakarta, I decided to
\nmove from the rear coach to the front one. Again I asked the
\nconductor at which stations the train would stop. He said it
\nwould not stop until it reached Gambir. After that, it would stop
\nat Kota station, its final destination.<\/p>\n
I saw several passengers knocking on the door separating the
\npassengers from the train driver. Very quickly they were let into
\nthe engineer's compartment. I learned they wanted to exit the
\ntrain before Gambir. I tried knocking on the door myself, hoping
\nto get dropped at Citayam. "May I come in, sir?" I said to the
\nconductor, who, instead of replying, hurriedly closed the door.
\nAll I could do was watch Citayam station get farther and farther
\naway.<\/p>\n
With nothing to lose, I fell into line behind three passengers
\napproaching the engineer's compartment. I saw them fish out some
\nmoney from their pockets. "How much?" I asked. One of them
\nreplied, "Only two thousand."<\/p>\n
This time I did not bother to ask if I could come in. I
\nknocked on the door and hurried in when it opened. I shoved two
\nRp 1,000 banknotes into the hand of the man who opened the door,
\nwho wore the uniform of an employee of the communications
\nministry. He asked me where I wanted to stop.<\/p>\n
"We cannot stop right at the station. It is not allowed," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The train stopped about 500 meters before the Manggarai
\nstation and I got off.<\/p>\n
Walking along the railway track, I heaved a heavy sigh: "For
\nthe sake of a few Rp 1,000 banknotes, the engineer is more than
\nready to bring the train to a halt in the middle of the track."
\nAnd the possibility of a train collision suddenly struck me.<\/p>\n
Corruption is not the sole domain of white-collar workers.
\nEven train crews have a few tricks to make a little extra money
\nusing the tools at their disposal, in this case a locomotive.<\/p>\n
--Blontank Poer<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riding-the-corruption-express-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }