'Bemo' may vanish from Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi claimed yesterday that 40 drivers of bemo (three-wheeled vehicle) have demanded the municipal administration replace their bemo with small buses.

The mayor said the drivers were bored with their bemo and want the administration to give them new vehicles.

"The replacement is possible, but all drivers should agree so as to prevent protest," Eddy said.

He said the bemo could then be used to transport garbage in the districts.

There are about 100 bemo plying six routes, mostly on Bogor's outskirts.

A bemo driver, Nurdin Hermansyah, said he did not know what the mayor was talking about, "as far as I know there's not a single bemo driver asking for the replacement," he said.

"We still like bemo, they are easy to maintain, the spare parts are cheap, and we make good money," said Nurdin. Two other bemo drivers at Pasir Kuda terminal agreed. Nurdin said he earned between Rp 10,000 (US$4.10) and Rp 20,000 a day.

Jakarta's administration is working hard to phase out bemo but the plan has attracted much criticism from drivers. (24/ste)