'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)