Better security needed for Jakarta taxi drivers

By Ridwan M. Sijabat

JAKARTA (JP): The body of Syamsul Bahri, a 40-year-old President taxi driver, was found in a secluded spot in Bekasi last October. His taxi was discovered three kilometers away.

Rasidami, a 40-year-old Kosti Jaya taxi driver, died following a struggle with a 16-year-old youth who robbed him of a small amount of money. The youth is currently serving a 15-year jail sentence at the Salemba Correctional Institution in Central Jakarta.

Syamsul and Rasidami were two of the 12 taxi drivers who were killed during robberies last year. In the second half of 1996 alone, there were 32 robberies of taxi drivers, cause enough for most taxi drivers to fear for their lives when they were on the job. They were also concerned that the number of such robberies would increase in the future, unless preventive actions were taken.

Lukman, a driver for Dian taxi, described how difficult it was for taxi drivers to discern robbers from ordinary passengers.

"It is impossible for us to screen our passengers. Anyone can hail our taxis," he told The Jakarta Post while waiting for passengers at the Lebak Bulus bus terminal in South Jakarta recently. "How can we know robbers from ordinary passengers?"

"The most important thing for us is that we serve the passengers and get the fare in return, so we can make the daily Rp 50,000 rental fee to be handed over to the taxi company," he said.

Hamonangan Sinaga, 29, a driver for President taxi, said drivers are vulnerable because the robbers usually operate in groups; one sits in the front beside the driver, while the others sit in the back and threaten him.

The robbers usually order the driver to take them to deserted places, where they can easily overpower him.

Hidayat, a driver for Gamya taxi, lamented over the great risks that taxi drivers have to face, even though their hard work yielded only a small amount of money.

"A taxi driver has Rp 300,000 at most in their pocket. He could be tortured or even murdered by robbers for that amount of money. On the other hand, the robbers are also risking their lives because they could be caught and killed by an angry mob. They could also be sent to jail," he said. "All that risk for such a small amount of money."

Many taxi drivers have escaped death with the help of passers- by or other taxi drivers who happened to be in the vicinity of a robbery scene. Police and other security officers have also played a role in handling and helping reduce robberies of taxi drivers, according to Hidayat.

Hidayat, a senior high school graduate, realizes that driving a taxi is not only risky, but will not make him rich. Like Lukman, Hidayat said he would have chosen "a better job" had he possessed the skills or academic degree for it.

Sony, 27, a driver for Citra taxi, admitted that police could not control taxi driver robberies alone. The companies, taxi owners, police and taxi drivers themselves should jointly cooperate and find ways to better protect taxi drivers.

"Taxi drivers should be trained in skills to handle emergency situations and police should increase their level of alertness so they are better able to handle crimes against taxi drivers," he said.

Sony also suggested that all cabs be equipped with a radio and a small lamp on the taxi roof which functions as an alarm.

Endarto, an employee of a private company, suggested that taxi companies install glass partitions separating drivers from passengers; communication between drivers and costumers can be conducted through a radio, he said.

Taxis in London have used such equipment, which has proven to be effective in reducing robberies of taxi drivers, he said.

Amarullah, who frequently uses taxis, said a ticket or coupon system could prevent robberies.

"Passengers can pay with tickets or coupons," he said. He said he was convinced that the method would reduce robberies, provided that the tickets are made available in public places such as bus stations, campuses, malls, department stores and offices.

Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, a former Jakarta metropolitan police chief and member of the National Commission on Human Rights, agreed that the safety of taxi drivers depends on the joint efforts of the taxi companies, drivers and police.

He agreed that all taxies should be equipped with glass partitions and call radios.

He said some taxi firms, in cooperation with the city police, had tried to better protect their drivers by installing emergency lights on the taxis. This, however, was found ineffective because police officers were not always available along all streets in the city.

He said the coupon system could be a good alternative to reduce the number of robberies, but he believed that partitions and radio communication would be the most effective means.

Loebby Loqman, a law expert at the University of Indonesia, advocated harsher penalties for robbers.

"We should impose stiffer punishments on the robbers so they will learn that human lives are much more valuable than the Rp 100,000 to Rp 300,000 they seize from the drivers," he said.

Companies

Taxi companies claim they are aware of all the risks their drivers face, so they have made efforts to better protect them.

For example, the Blue Bird taxi company has installed a hidden alarm and microphone in each cab. Once the system is activated, the dispatchers at the taxi pools can monitor the location of a taxi.

In spite of these measures, one of its drivers was robbed and killed recently.

Mubha Kahar Muang, director of PT Citra Transpor Nusantara, which operates 1,000 taxis, believed taxi drivers would be better protected if police increased their patrols and the authorities installed more street lights.

Mubha said the design of cabs in Indonesia makes it difficult to install glass partitions separating drivers from passengers.

"The cars would not be comfortable to ride in. I'm afraid it will be stuffy. Also, I wonder if the situation has become that serious that we need to install such a glass partition." she said.