Bike parking fee angers residents

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): About 100 Tangerang residents protested a new Rp 200 (8.5 U.S. cents) parking fee for bicycles and carts yesterday.

Carrying placards the protesters asked Mayor Djakaria Mahmud to revoke the parking fee regulation.

Residents' spokesman Lahmudin said the fee was unfair because it affected poor people.

"Doesn't the administration have other ways to get funds for development other than imposing such a fee on poor people?" Lahmudin said in front of the mayoralty office.

The mayor, represented by public order office head Suparman, said the mayor did not have the right to revoke regulation no. 17/1996 which imposed the parking fees. "It's the legislative council which has the authority," Suparman said.

However, Suparman said "as far as I know there is no parking fee for bicycles and carts. There must have been a mistake in the application of the regulation."

The protesters then marched to the legislative council office, demanding the regulation being revoked.

They said the mayoralty and the legislative council should have done thorough studies before imposing the regulation. (27/jun)