Bus owners say no turning back on massive strike plan

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)