'Taxi drivers should train for self-defense'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police are advocating that taxi drivers be
\ngiven martial arts lessons to help the drivers protect themselves
\nfrom possible attacks.<\/p>\n
\"We would be happy to train the drivers,\" city police
\nspokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Taxi drivers in the city have expressed their concern with the
\nrecent spate of robberies that have ended in the deaths of some
\nof their colleagues.<\/p>\n
Slamet Riyadi of President Taxi said the alarms installed in
\ntheir cars, which are designed to send an SOS message to passing
\ntaxis, are of no help at all.<\/p>\n
\"How could I reach the button if the robber has already put a
\nsickle around my neck?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
According to police data, at least four taxi drivers were
\nrobbed and brutally killed by their passengers this year. The
\nlast two incidents occurred this month.<\/p>\n
The first victim this year was Abdullah, 35, from the Hera
\nUtama taxi company. His decomposing body was found on Feb. 6 in
\nthe bushes behind a cinema in the Jatiuwung village of Tangerang,
\n30 kilometers west of here. His body was riddled with stab
\nwounds, while his vehicle and wallet were missing.<\/p>\n
The second was Dede Kuswara, 47, from the Centris firm. He was
\nfound dead in his taxi with 30 stab wounds to the body on the
\nCikampek-Bekasi expressway on June 1. His wallet was also
\nmissing.<\/p>\n
Early this month, Sirjon Naibaho, 37, from the Dian Taksi
\ncompany, was found dead 200 meters away from his vehicle in Duren
\nSawit, East Jakarta. The third victim, found on July 4, suffered
\nseveral stab wounds to the throat, face and stomach. His wallet
\nwas also missing.<\/p>\n
The latest victim was identified as Maryani, 40, from the Maya
\nKencana firm. His body was blue when it was found. Police believe
\nthat the two wounds on his neck were inflicted by a poisoned
\ndagger. He was found in his taxi parked on Jl. Raya Tawakal in
\nGrogol, West Jakarta, on July 5.<\/p>\n
In several interviews with The Jakarta Post, drivers from
\nseveral taxi companies have said that they have trouble
\ndifferentiating legitimate passengers from would-be robbers.<\/p>\n
\"I was robbed twice but still can't tell them apart from real
\npassengers,\" said Slamet.<\/p>\n
In the first incident, Slamet was robbed and hit in the neck
\nby a group of two well-dressed men and a woman. He regained
\nconsciousness a few hours later.<\/p>\n
According to a Blue Bird taxi driver, who asked not to be
\nnamed, the safest way to avoid trouble is to wait for a pick-up
\ncall from the company. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taxi-drivers-should-train-for-self-defense-1447893297",
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