'Becak' to be removed from the city in 100 days

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso announced on Thursday a 100- day public order program, which would include becak (pedicabs) clearance in the city and enforcing rules concerning street vendors.

Sutiyoso said the city administration would uphold the supremacy of the law, including the application of the 1988 bylaw which bans pedicabs on city streets.

He said the administration would soon conduct a joint raid against pedicabs in the city's five mayoralties.

Asked whether the pedicab drivers would protest the move by city public order officials, Sutiyoso said officials could be at risk, but that he expected that there would no fights.

"I have instructed my officers to pursue a persuasive approach before conducting raids against becak drivers," he said.

He called on the public not to consider the program an outrageous move by the administration, saying that the measure was taken to restore public order in the city.

City public order office head Hadi Utomo said on Wednesday that raids against pedicab drivers were not easy, because most of the drivers kept sharp weapons in the becak.

"Many of my officers were injured during the raids," Hadi told city councilors.

In a meeting on Wednesday, the City Council and the administration agreed to uphold the bylaw on the prohibition of the pedicabs.

City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said he personally had received objections from residents of housing complexes and operators of recreational centers about the presence of pedicabs in their areas. He said the objections focused on associated traffic and litter problems.

President Abdurrahman Wahid ended last Saturday the uncertainty surrounding a prolonged dispute between the city administration and pedicab drivers when he met with some 10,000 poor people, including pedicab drivers, at the Senayan Stadium.

The President issued a statement in favor of the administration's move to ban becak from operating on the city's streets.

At least 6,621 pedicabs are currently operating on the streets, with approximately 95 percent of the drivers being non- Jakarta residents.

Sutiyoso renewed on Thursday his commitment that he would only consider providing jobs for drivers who were Jakarta residents.

"We'll help them through the social safety net program," he said.

Non-Jakarta drivers would be given tickets to return to their hometowns, mostly in Cirebon, West Java, and Banyumas, Tegal, Brebes and Pekalongan, all in Central Java, he added. (jun)