'Becak' drivers attack E. Jakarta mayoralty office over raids
'Becak' drivers attack E. Jakarta mayoralty office over raids
JAKARTA (JP): Led members of the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC),
a non-governmental organization, a group of some 400 people
claiming to be becak (pedicab) drivers in the East Jakarta area
attacked the local mayoralty office on Wednesday morning.
No fatalities were reported but at least one Hansip (civilian
security guard) was injured in the attack. The attackers also
broke down the front gate of the office on Jl. Sentra Primer
Baru.
Head of the mayoralty's sociopolitical affairs office Sahuri
Syarief told journalists that policemen had to throw tear gas
canisters to stop the mob from further damaging the office.
"When they finally stopped pelting stones at us, we rushed our
Hansip, Supandi, to the nearby clinic for treatment to an injury
to his forehead. He was hit by stones," Sahuri added.
The pedicab drivers gathered in front of the office at about
10 a.m., demanding Mayor Andi Mappaganty revoke his letter of
announcement which stated the mayoralty would continue to conduct
raids on pedicab drivers.
Most of the attackers said they used their becak to serve
passengers in the Pulogadung and Cakung areas.
"This is the second time they have come and asked us to revoke
the announcement, which is in line with City Bylaw No. 11/1998
which prohibits pedicabs from operating in the capital.
"Off course, we cannot meet their demand," Sahuri said.
The mayoralty set Sept. 15 as the deadline for all pedicab
drivers to bring their vehicles to the mayoralty office to be
purchased at Rp 250,000 (US$29).
Since the Aug. 23 announcement, the mayoralty has succeeded in
collecting dozens of pedicabs and has assured over 50 drivers it
will sent them back to their respective hometowns at the
mayoralty's expense.
"I understand that the (Central Jakarta) court made a decision
on July 31 (in the lawsuit between Governor Sutiyoso and pedicab
drivers) in their favor, but the city administration has appealed
so we cannot go against any rules by continuing our raids,"
Sahuri said.
The police managed to disperse the crowd at 11:45 a.m.
Coordinator of the protesters Eddy Suheidi, from UPC, along with
25 people representing the pedicab drivers, held a meeting with
Sahuri afterward.
"In the meeting, we failed to reach any agreement as we both
insisted on maintaining our stances," Sahuri added.
He believed the attack did not merely come from the pedicab
drivers but had been provoked by "a third party".
"This is because of the presence of a third party that
provoked the pedicab drivers.
I believe if it was truly from them, they would not attack our
office," Sahuri said.
When asked to name the provocateurs, Sahuri said: "We all know
who the coordinator of the movement is." (dja)