'Becak' drivers stage protest

JAKARTA (JP): More than 1,000 disadvantaged people, mostly becak (pedicab) drivers and street vendors, staged a rally at the Office of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

Organized by several non-governmental organizations, including the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), the people urged Minister Jusuf Kalla to press the city administration to revoke City Bylaw No. 11/1988, which bans becak from operating in the city.

Political observer Arbi Sanit, who accompanied the protesters, said the government under President Megawati Soekarnoputri should listen to the voice of the people.

"Megawati was earlier supported by the people. She will lose their support in the future if she does not listen," he said.

Jusuf Kalla, however, was absent from his office on Monday.

Jusuf told SCTV later in the evening that he could not force the city administration to revoke the bylaw.

Separately, City Governor Sutiyoso insisted on Monday that he would not revoke the bylaw.

He said the administration was preparing to take legal action against the UPC for their alleged role in the clashes between becak drivers and public order officers last Tuesday, which left one civilian guard dead. (jun)