Bus robberies

Bus robberies

On Sept. 3 and Sept. 22, I traveled from Yogyakarta to
Denpasar at night by bus: the Safari Dharma Raya, Super
Executive. Both times I was robbed.

The first time I lost a valuable IBM Thinkpad 240x computer.
The last time the robber only managed to get my wallet before I
caught him, a 29-year-old man from Bandung. He is now supposedly
in police custody in Banyuwangi.

For me, a single foreign traveler in his 50s, this was a
shocking experience. No one on the bus assisted me when I cried
out maling (thief) and shouted to the driver stop polisi (stop
and report to the police). The second driver just continued
sleeping. The conductor just smiled, and went back to his place
at the front of the bus.

The driver, however, stopped after some minutes. Not to let
the police enter the bus -- but to let three or four passengers
quickly escape from the bus, in a deserted area before
Banyuwangi. These people were probably members of the gang of
robbers. Finally, after half an hour of more or less fighting
with the robber, I was able to hand him over to the police in
Banyuwangi.

Safari Dharma Raya said they were not responsible if
passengers were robbed. This is ridiculous. They are very much
responsible. My impression is that they have staff who seem more
interested in cooperating with the robbers instead of stopping
them. Is Safari Dharma Raya not responsible for their own rules
and for the actions of their staff? I expect their response and
also compensation for my stolen computer.

JAN CHRISTENSEN

Norway