Bogor minivan drivers launch sudden strike

Bogor minivan drivers launch sudden strike

BOGOR (JP): Hundreds of minivan drivers went on strike on
Monday along Jl. Semeru, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The drivers of the minivans were reportedly angry as they were
told other minivans would take over their routes and many
passengers were not paying attention to the new fare, which is Rp
200 higher than before.

The protesters were minivan drivers of route number 6 plying
Bantar Kambing, Merdeka and Bogor and number 6A plying Semplak,
Parung and Bogor.

"We want the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) to
promote the new minivan fare and other minivans must not come on
our routes," Supardi, 35, the chairman of the Parung Driver
Union, said.

The strike, which began at about 9 a.m., involved minivan
drivers parking their vehicles along Jl. Semeru, refusing to take
any passengers. Soon crowds gathered around the Taman Yasmin
area, waiting for alternative transportation.

Even though the public transportation fare was officially
raised on June 1, many passengers are still paying the old fare,
Supardi said.

"The Parung Bogor route fare is now Rp 1,200, up from Rp
1,000. But many are still paying less than that. Others pay just
Rp 500 from Semplak to Bogor, which is set at Rp 700 now,"
Supardi said.

The group also refused the plan of having an additional 40
minivans operating in the area by the DLLAJ.

"There are already about 1,500 minivans plying the 15-
kilometer-long route of Parung Semplak Bogor," Supardi said.

"It's difficult to manage this amount of vehicles so why add
more of a problem?" he said.

In response, Bogor Barat Police chief First Lt. Sapuan Riyanto
urged passengers to follow the current fare schedule and pay the
proper amount.

"People must participate in this matter and not create more
chaos by not paying the current fare," he said.

Bogor has been hit by a series of public transportation
strikes recently. On June 5, hundreds of bus crews went on strike
at Baranangsiang bus terminal, leaving thousands of passengers,
who were mostly commuters employed in Jakarta, stranded.

The strike, which started early on Monday morning, was
protesting a policy by the bus terminal authorities which favors
Kramat Djati buses.

The bus crews were protesting the fact that the Kramat Djati
buses benefit by having a special lane for its buses in the
terminal, making their buses the only ones that do not have to
line up to pick up passengers. (21/edt)