'Bemo' drivers seek legal help

JAKARTA (JP): About 50 bemo drivers came in their three- wheeled motorized public transportation vehicles to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute yesterday to seek legal assistance. This is their second visit to the office in a week.

The drivers asked the institute to help them fight a new regulation which seeks to rid Jakarta of bemo, according to a press release made available to The Jakarta Post.

The city wants to banish what the government says is an old- fashioned means of transport and last month said it would compensate bemo owners Rp 500,000 for each vehicle and enable them to take out loans for 1300 cc vehicles.

The owners, mostly people from the low income bracket, pressed for the elimination of down payments, as well as low monthly installments for the new vehicles. They also asked that the new vehicles be priced according to rates for commercial vehicles which are lower than for non-commercial ones, that the City and Land Transportation Agency be a good coordinator, and that the choice of new vehicles not be limited to minibus types.

Bemo drivers also expect to set up a cooperative among themselves.

The Central Jakarta mayoralty is planning to register bemo owners and drivers starting June 6. (14)