Bogor's public transport on strike

BOGOR: Hundreds of public transport drivers in Bogor went on strike on Tuesday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded along the roads.

The strike, starting at 7 a.m., involved minivans serving the Jonggol-Cileungsi route and medium-sized buses on the Jonggol- Bogor route.

The drivers demanded a fares increase, following the fuel price increase as well as that for telephones and electricity.

The minivan drivers demanded an increase from Rp 3,000 to Rp 3,500 while the drivers of medium-sized buses demanded that fares be increased from Rp 4,000 to Rp 4,500.

"The fares should be increased, as the cost of fuel has increased," said Dadang, one of the minivan drivers.

Some passengers complained that the demand for a Rp 500 fare increase would be a burden.

"I feel that the Rp 500 fare increase is too much for me as I find it difficult to meet my daily needs," said Bertus, 49, a resident of Cileungsi.

Jonggol police chief Insp. Aang Hardian said the police had deployed five trucks to help transport the stranded people. --JP