'Bemo' drivers seek legal help

'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)