Unregistered drivers blamed for strikes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja blamed unregistered
\nbus drivers Monday for having caused intermittent strikes in the
\npast two weeks.<\/p>\n
But drivers in South Jakarta said yesterday they were working
\nhard to secure their jobs.<\/p>\n
\"To be a permanent driver, we have to pay between Rp 150,000
\n(US$61.29) and Rp 300,000 as down payment to bus owners,\" said
\ndriver Rajimin, 44, who was waiting for orders in Poltangan, near
\nPasar Minggu.<\/p>\n
Rajimin said competition was tight to obtain authorized
\ndriving permits from bus owners, who do not immediately trust
\napplicants.<\/p>\n
\"Besides,\" he said, \"my monthly income rarely reaches Rp
\n200,000, so it's impossible to be part of a bus company.\"<\/p>\n
The unregistered drivers, called sopir tembak, said they had
\nnot joined the strike -- \"but we also feel emotional over news of
\nnew vehicles,\" Rajimin said.<\/p>\n
If news that the City Land Transport Agency (DLLAJ) was going
\nto replace many medium-sized buses with big buses to alleviate
\ncongestion was true, \"it would mean the end for us,\" Rajimin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Many unregistered drivers would lose their only source of
\nincome, other drivers said.<\/p>\n
The daily routine of these drivers was to wait for orders to
\nsubstitute for registered drivers, who were either to tired or
\nuneager to work because of a drop in passengers.<\/p>\n
\"I've been unemployed for four days,\" said Rajimin, a father
\nof six, who was waiting for orders while playing chess.<\/p>\n
As substitutes for S604 Metromini buses plying the route
\nbetween Pasar Minggu and Tanah Abang, Rajimin and his colleagues
\nall had bus uniforms borrowed from regular drivers.<\/p>\n
\"If there's a raid (in which unregistered drivers are caught
\nwithout licenses), we bribe police Rp 10,000,\" Imam, his friend,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tari, 42, a sopir tembak of S68 Kopaja buses plying the route
\nbetween Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta and the Ragunan Zoo, South
\nJakarta, said he was dependent on the mercy of registered
\ndrivers.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have to give fees to bus owners, but I really want to
\nbecome an authorized bus driver,\" Tari said, because his unstable
\njob was a problem each time undercover officials checked drivers'
\nregistration cards.<\/p>\n
The drivers also expected DLLAJ to help reduce illegal levies
\ncollected by official or unofficial people at terminals, or even
\nat intersections.<\/p>\n
\"Bus drivers are burdened by levies. Sometimes we don't know
\nwhat they are for, but some definitely go to the police,\" a
\ndriver said.<\/p>\n
An officer from a South Jakarta regional military district,
\nwho requested anonymity, said that certain authorities received
\n'bonuses' for \"security and supervision purposes\" but denied that
\nthe levies had ignited strikes.<\/p>\n
A person at an intersection on Jl. Duren Tiga, Mampang
\nPrapatan, also South Jakarta, said he collected Rp 1,500 from
\nevery passing S68 bus for \"security reasons\".<\/p>\n
For instance, every S62 Kopaja bus, plying between Manggarai
\nand Pasar Minggu, should pay Rp 7,800 in daily levies, which
\nincludes fees for security, route payments (uang jalur) and
\nsavings, in case bus windows were smashed, or other repairs, the
\nman from Pasar Minggu said.<\/p>\n
\"It's crazy, but the agency has not shown any attempt to
\nremedy the situation,\" Imam, a driver, said. Apart from the news
\nof new buses, \"the daily levies also add to our anger,\" he said.
\n(10)<\/p>",
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