Bus owners protest delay in fares hike

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Public Land Transportation Owners (Organda) said it would mobilize its drivers for a street demonstration if the city's administration failed to promptly decide on a hike in bus fares.

Organda's chairman, Aip Saifuddin, said on Tuesday that the drivers would stage a protest at the City Council to express their demand if Governor Sutiyoso failed to respond to the matter.

"We sent a letter to the city administration about the matter yesterday (Monday). If we cannot get a reply in three days, we will ask our members to come to the council for a protest," Aip said.

He said Organda regretted Sutiyoso's statement late last month that the city administration had decided to delay the fares hike until the completion of the General Assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Members of the 700-seat Assembly will meet some time in November to elect a new president and vice president and to endorse the five-yearly State Policy Guidelines (GBHN).

Dian Soegiarto, an executive from Kopaja minibus firm, confirmed the planned demonstration at the city council.

"We have informed the city police about the planned demonstration, to be held some time next week," he said.

Sutiyoso's latest statement contradicted his first announcement early last month that the fares hike would come into effect in the first week of August.

The city administration announced last week that Organda, City Land Transportation Agency and the Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI) had agreed on a new bus fare structure.

The proposal includes an increase in regular bus fare from Rp 300 (4 US cents) to Rp 500, an increase on non-airconditioned and limited bus (PATAS) fare from Rp 700 to Rp 900.

The fare for minibuses will be increased to Rp 700 from Rp 500 and for air-conditioned PATAS buses from Rp 2,300 to Rp 2,500. Meanwhile, special student fare for regular buses will be increased to Rp 200 from Rp 100.

YLKI, however, denied last month that it had agreed to the new fare structure. (jun)