Bus owners say no turning back on massive strike plan

JAKARTA (JP): The organization representing private owners of buses and minibuses in the capital vowed on Saturday to proceed with a mass strike on Monday to send home its message for a fare increase.

"The decision was once again made today in a meeting between us and owners of the 14 private bus/minibus companies," chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) Aip Syarifudin told The Jakarta Post on Saturday evening.

Aip said the bus owners would stop their plan only if the city administration, or the central government, agreed to one of the alternatives offered by the organization.

"First, simply approve our proposal for the fare hike or second, set their own rates but subsidize the difference of the rate to the bus owners. The third option is to set the fare based on distance. That's it!"

If the companies proceed with their plan, commuters in the capital would be left to find rides on the 2,500 buses belonging to city-owned bus company Perum PPD.

About 3,800 buses and some 5,000 minibuses belonging to private firms and individuals would be off the streets on Monday.

Streets, bus stops and terminals in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok could be packed with millions of commuters, particularly state and private employees, traders and students, who usually use buses and minibuses as their main transportation means.

"The bus owners would stop operating their vehicles until the authorities are willing to accept one of their offers," Aip said.

He said the 14 companies included the major private bus and minibus operators, such as PT Mayasari Bhakti, PT Steady Safe, PT Giri Indah Andalan, Himpurna Cooperatives, PT Metromini, Kopaja, Koantas Bima and Kopami Jaya.

"We are losing our shirts. The revenues generated by the company can't meet the company's costs due to skyrocketing prices of spare parts," Mayasari Bhakti deputy director for operational affairs, I Gusti Ngurah Oka, told the Post.

The firm is currently operating 600 of its total fleet of 1,439 buses.

Oka said his company had no reason to apologize to the public if the strike went ahead.

"It's totally the fault of the government," he said.

Aip said the bus owners resorted to the unpopular decision because they were upset by the action of the city administration, which rejected their alternative proposals.

The authorities instead challenged the owners by asking other state institutions to deploy buses for commuters, he said.

"The bus owners have proposed their demands since 1997 without a proper response from the government. It's already more than enough."

He said the authorities placated bus owners when they threatened to strike in 1997 by giving them credit at a low interest rate of 6 percent.

"But the scheme only lasted for six months," he said.

The bus operators have experienced financial difficulties for years due to the skyrocketing price of vehicle spare parts and maintenance costs, but the authorities have consistently denied their requests for fare hikes.

"Look at the special fare for students. It's been Rp 100 since 1989. The fare for regular buses has remained the same since 1996. Who could survive in this business?" Aip said.

The bus owners also threatened a mass strike in February 1998 but relented after Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin warned he would take stern action against any party causing unrest in the city.

Aip said: "Personally, I'm really sad (about the planned strike). Even my children hate me, saying that I'm a bad guy because I'll leave so many people stranded on the streets.

"But the public should know that Organda is just an organization."

It groups owners of private city buses, minibuses, mikrolet (minivans), trucks, container trucks and chartered buses.

Aip said about 6,000 minivans, a popular form of transportation but with restricted routes, would remain on the roads because the owners were satisfied with the fare.

Separately, acting State Secretary Bondan Gunawan said the government would not prohibit the bus owners from going on strike.

"The government never bans (strikes). It depends on them. Most likely, they will be able to voice their demands in such a way," he said on Saturday.

Chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Gen. Widodo AS said the military was ready to assist Jakarta authorities in handling any problems from a bus strike.

"We'll deploy military vehicles and personnel to assist the administration in coping with the strike threat," he said after witnessing the departure of President Abdurrahman Wahid at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

Governor Sutiyoso, who was at the same venue, regretted the strike plan.

"This time they may be serious about their plan, which would cause losses to many people." He added he would soon hold a meeting with the various parties in an attempt to reach a settlement. (asa/ylt/09/bsr)