Buses on the move again

SURABAYA, East Java: About half of the bus operators whose drivers went on strike the previous day began operating on Tuesday, the head of City Land Transportation Agency's sub- terminal section Indra Gani said

Fearful of vandalism and angry mobs who have set fire to several buses, hundreds of intercity bus drivers at the Purabaya terminal went on strike on Monday demanding that police guarantee their security.

"I've contacted several operators in order to run buses as scheduled. But some of them have said that there are many drivers still absent," Indra said.

Indra said that buses bound for central Java had returned a little back to normal.

Many passengers have been forced to take the train as an alternative.

Meanwhile, the head of the Association of Land Transportation Owners for east Java branch Mustafa said that police security guarantees had been affirmed.

"In the last two to three days, every bus has been accompanied by one to two national police officers. As for bus operators who are still not operating, maybe it's due to technical problems," he said, pointing to bus operators Akas, Sumber Kentjono and Kalisari. (nur/hdn)