Silverbird hunted by Bandung Police<\/p>\n
On Thursday, June 8, I was called to Bandung because of an
\nemergency. However, it was too late to get a train ticket and I
\nwas reluctant to go to Kampung Rambutan Bus Terminal at night.<\/p>\n
Eventually, I decided I would have to use a taxi. I was told
\nthe only taxis allowed to operate outside of Jakarta are
\nSilverbirds from the Blue Bird group. Despite the cost, I felt it
\nwas my only option and I had to reach Bandung.<\/p>\n
During the journey, I talked at length with the driver, who
\nwas friendly and polite. We talked about a lot of subjects, such
\nas our families and work. He related how he was once robbed by a
\npassenger who held a screwdriver to his neck. He also told of how
\ntaxi drivers, particularly on the Jakarta-Bandung route, were
\noften shaken down for money by the police.<\/p>\n
I felt confident that it would not happen this time -- I had
\nbeen told that Silverbirds are allowed to operate outside of
\nJakarta according to a decree dating back to the early 1990s.<\/p>\n
It turned out the driver was right.<\/p>\n
As we entered Bandung from the Pasteur toll exit, a police
\njeep began following us. In front of the Gran Aquila Hotel, we
\nwere pulled over and the driver ordered out. The four police
\nofficers in the jeep -- numbered URC 008 -- paid no attention to
\nme, never asking me to show my passport or KITAS.<\/p>\n
A few moments later, the driver came back and began searching
\nin the glove compartment of the car. I asked what was going on,
\nand he told me the police wanted Rp 75,000 before he could
\nproceed. \"Usually, they will settle for Rp 20,000 or Rp 10,000,\"
\nhe sighed.<\/p>\n
I alighted from the car and asked the police why we had been
\nstopped. One of them (two of the others looked away, and the
\noldest among the group stared at me like I must be from outer
\nspace to question their actions) told me that taxis needed
\npermits to leave Jakarta. \"This isn't Mister's problem, it's
\nbetter that you go back to the taxi,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later it was all over. The police were willing
\nto compromise a little and take Rp 50,000, which was equivalent
\nto more than a third of the argometer. The driver could only give
\nout another exasperated sigh. He showed me a photocopy of the
\ndecree but said: \"It wouldn't matter if I showed it to them, they
\ndon't care.\"<\/p>\n
As an expatriate who has lived in Indonesia for about 10
\nyears, including periods in high school and university exchange
\nprograms, I was outraged by the incident, which only confirms the
\ntarnished image of the Indonesian Police. It seems the officers
\nconsider their main duty is to drive around preying on people
\ntrying to earn an honest living, while the real criminals get
\naway with murder. It's an open secret that Bandung has a serious
\ndrug problem (hang around the main shopping mall BIP for a few
\nminutes and see for yourself), but perhaps this is not on the
\npolice's agenda of priorities in fighting crime.<\/p>\n
At any rate, the polite and conscientious taxi driver now has
\nanother tale to tell of being \"robbed\".<\/p>\n
BRUCE E.<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/silverbird-hunted-by-bandung-police-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }