Starting date delay angers minivan owners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty owners of minivans, which are scheduled
\nto replace the three-wheeled bemo, held a protest yesterday after
\nplans for the changeover were delayed for a third time.<\/p>\n
They went to the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) to
\ndemand consistency in its plan for the minivans to ply a number
\nof routes in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Pungki Sampurno, one of the minivan owners, said the fleet,
\nwhich is called Angkutan Pengganti Bemo or APB (literally meaning
\nthe vehicles to replace bemo), were scheduled to start operation
\non Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
The plan, however, was postponed without any explanation,
\nPungki said.<\/p>\n
\"Later the Organization of City Land Transportation Owners
\n(Organda) made a new announcement allowing us to start operating
\non Sept. 3.\"<\/p>\n
He said this plan was also canceled, much to the
\ndisappointment of minivan owners, because DLLAJ was not ready to
\nprovide traffic signs for the minivan routes.<\/p>\n
Later the agency announced that the minivan operation would be
\nlaunched on Sept. 6 but this plan was also delayed without
\nexplanation, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We've gone through many troubles and wasted much time, money
\nand energy. How can we survive if we're not able to operate? Our
\nfamily needs to eat.\"<\/p>\n
At 6 a.m. the minivan owners and their drivers, in 35 vans,
\nwent to the agency's office at Jati Baru, Central Jakarta. The
\nprocession caused heavy traffic congestions on roads around the
\narea.<\/p>\n
The head of DLLAJ, J.P. Sepang, agreed to meet them yesterday
\nand promised to complete the vans' traffic signs and make a new
\narrangement for the launch.<\/p>\n
\"You can start operating at least by Sept. 13,\" Sepang said.
\n\"Don't worry because I will take full responsibility.\"<\/p>\n
Believing Sepang's words, the van owners agreed to wait but
\nthreatened to hold another protest if the agency failed to meet
\nthe deadline again.<\/p>\n
Pungki said: \"If the plan is delayed again we will bring this
\ncomplaint to the City Council.\"<\/p>\n
Out of 1,096 minivans only 534 are ready to operate. The
\nreplacement of bemo was originally scheduled to start last
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
Based on the Gubernatorial Decree No. 33\/1996, all outdated
\nvehicles currently operating in the city will be phased out,
\nincluding bemo and becak (pedicabs).<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said earlier that the plan was
\naimed at providing sufficient and effective public transportation
\nand to fulfill residents' needs for public transportation. (07)<\/p>",
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