Thousands stranded as drivers continue strike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of passengers between Tanah Abang and
\nKebayoran Lama areas, and also Kebun Jeruk, were still stranded
\nyesterday as a strike of at least 2,000 drivers entered its
\nsecond day.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) had to
\nsolve yesterday not only the problem in Kebayoran Lama, but also
\nstriking drivers in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, and Cilincing,
\nNorth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
To replace buses which ply the Kebayoran Lama-Tanah Abang
\nroute, 10 covered police trucks, a few army vehicles and state-
\nowned PPD buses were deployed since Tuesday afternoon to help
\nforlorn passengers. Other passengers had to pay fares set by ojek
\nmotorcycle taxis, who reaped huge earnings.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of motorcycles for hire -- including people who do
\nnot work as ojek drivers -- lined streets heading towards
\nPalmerah and Kebayoran Lama, and towards Petamburan and Tanah
\nAbang until late afternoon.<\/p>\n
One of the new ojek drivers, Abdul Salam of Petamburan, West
\nJakarta, who owns a small store, said he had collected at least
\nRp 30,000 (US$12) before 4 p.m. yesterday.<\/p>\n
Another new driver, Achmad, a high school student, said he got
\ninto an argument with a passenger because he charged Rp 15,000
\nfrom Palmerah to Kalideres, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"But then he agreed because there were no other means of
\npublic transport,\" Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
The strike was by drivers of the M09 bus route between Tanah
\nAbang and Kebayoran Lama, and drivers of buses plying two other
\nsimilar routes -- towards Kebon Jeruk and Meruya Ilir, South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Drivers said Tuesday new buses ran by the Koperasi Wahana
\nKalpika (KWK) cooperative had violated their permits by plying
\nKebayoran Lama roads. They decided to strike because authorities
\nhad not heeded their complaints.<\/p>\n
The KWK vans had permits to drive along a route between Grogol
\nRiver and Kreo in South Jakarta, without passing through
\nKebayoran Lama.<\/p>\n
Head of city bus affairs Robby Rewah at DLLAJ said at noon
\nthey had reached an agreement with cooperatives running the
\ndifferent routes, but the strike continued.<\/p>\n
\"The KWK management has been told to keep their buses on their
\npermitted routes,\" Robby said.<\/p>\n
Around 300 drivers of the Kebayoran Lama route marched to the
\nHouse of Representatives in the morning and met with Commission V
\nin charge of transportation.<\/p>\n
Violence<\/p>\n
They agreed to end the strike because the commission promised
\nto channel their grievances. But around 3 p.m. violence broke out
\nwhen at least one van had its windows smashed. Police also
\narrested two drivers on charges of beating a fellow driver,
\nHerman Effendi, 46.<\/p>\n
The two detained drivers who were brought to Palmerah Police
\nprecinct were Harsono and Suharno, both aged 37.<\/p>\n
Herman was driving under the Slipi overpass around 3:00 p.m.
\nyesterday when several drivers pursued him.<\/p>\n
The drivers attacked Herman and smashed the Kijang van's
\nwindows.<\/p>\n
Herman suffered severe injuries to the head and was taken to a
\nnearby hospital.<\/p>\n
City Traffic Police Chief Col. Ansyar Roem regretted the
\nstrike.<\/p>\n
\"They've fell victim to their own actions because they've lost
\nincome,\" Ansyar said.<\/p>\n
He said police were concerned about the possibility of another
\ndisturbance if commuters, being exhausted after a long day's
\nwork, became angry at finding no public transportation to bring
\nthem home.<\/p>\n
\"Police will continue deploying additional vehicles to take
\npeople to their destinations until drivers end their strikes,\"
\nAnsyar said. The temporary vehicles were free, he said.<\/p>\n
DLLAJ also met with six drivers who represented drivers of the
\nKampung Melayu-Pulogadung route.<\/p>\n
Drivers of route M21 had begun striking Monday when they found
\nout that their 125 buses had been increased to 133 buses, and
\nwould eventually be increased to 140.<\/p>\n
In the meeting Robby explained that the limit for the number
\nof buses along the 6-kilometer route, according to a 1996 city
\nrule, was 140. He said DLLAJ had permitted eight more buses based
\non a survey, which was preceded by requests from bus company
\nowners.<\/p>\n
But in response to complaints, DLLAJ would review the survey,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The representatives agreed to end the strike.<\/p>\n
\"But please give us a written statement to show our fellow
\ndrivers,\" Gultom, a driver, said.<\/p>\n
When asked why they did not complain to the organization of
\npublic transport companies, Organda, drivers said they felt the
\norganization never represented their interests.<\/p>\n
Officials said another strike in North Jakarta by drivers
\nplying the Tanjung Priok-Cilincing route had been settled by the
\nlocal DLLAJ office. It was also reportedly sparked by buses being
\nadded to the route.<\/p>\n
City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga said that DLLAJ should be
\nmore careful in issuing route permits.<\/p>\n
\"The agency must take sides with people's interests,\" Ritonga
\nsaid. \"They shouldn't add buses to routes so easily.\"<\/p>\n
Requests for more buses on a route, or permits to operate a
\nnew route, are forwarded by bus companies to DLLAJ, he said. A
\nsurvey is then conducted before a decision is reached.<\/p>\n
Drivers should be involved in discussions on new buses,
\nRitonga said. (anr\/cst\/10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-stranded-as-drivers-continue-strike-1447893297",
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