Bus drivers protest against police

JAKARTA (JP): The drivers of at least 20 Kopaja-502 buses stopped plying the Kampung Rambutan - Tanah Abang route yesterday in protest at police action against them they believe to be excessive and unfair.

The strikers said police officers along the route often ticketed them without reason. They also claimed the officers demanded money for reasons they would not explain.

Yesterday's action left hundreds of passengers, notably students and those going to work, scrambling for other transport along Jl. Otista, East Jakarta.

Worst affected were people heading for Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and the commercial district of Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta.

Kopaja operations manager Syarifuddin told Antara that the drivers were showing their disgust at the widespread illegal levies and the increasing incidence of ticketing, mostly by East Jakarta police officers, without reason.

"Some drivers are ticketed up to three times a day without the officers explaining why," he said.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang denied the claim that police officers had "imposed pressure" on the striking Kopaja drivers.

"I have checked on this," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone.

He said the drivers' problems were connected to the issuance of route permits which resulted in too many buses from different companies serving the same route.

Some striking drivers said yesterday they believed the police officers ticketing and asking them for money were those they complained about during a March 26 dialog between Kopaja and the City Police.

"Maybe some individual officers are doing it again in revenge," said driver Binsar, 45.

He said ticketing the same driver up to three times in a single day was "too much" because drivers had to pay more than Rp 100,000 (US$13.33) to get their driving licenses and other documents back. (pan/edt)