Buses taken over by locals after traffic accident

Buses taken over by locals after traffic accident

Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Boyolali, Central Java

Dozens of residents in Ngaru-aru subdistrict here took over three
buses on Monday belonging to local bus firm PT Apollo, following
a bus accident last week that killed a local resident.

The six-hour drama began on Monday morning when dozens of
residents, armed themselves with wooden sticks and iron bars,
stopped three Apollo buses traveling between Surakarta and
Semarang.

The angry residents barricaded the road preventing the Apollo
buses from passing by Jl. Ngaru-aru and forced the drivers to
pull over and park on the side of the road.

Paimin, one of the bus drivers, said that he had to comply
with the residents' demand. "I had to surrender the bus to the
residents. There were many of them and they were angry," he said.

The blockade, which began at 4 a.m and ended at 12:30 p.m, was
without incident.

Due to the action of the residents, some 200 passengers had to
transfer to other buses, in order to continue their journey.

According to Wardoyo, a local resident, the residents were
reacting to an accident which occurred on Oct. 24 in which an
Apollo bus hit spouses Sarjimin, 43 and Sulastri, 45; both
residents of Ngaru-aru subdistrict.

Sarjimin died on the spot, while Sulastri suffered serious
injuries and is still undergoing treatment at Surakarta's Islam
Hospital.

"The family of the victims have talked to the bus company and
the bus driver, but after six meetings, they have not reached an
agreement," said Wardoyo.

Frustrated by the protracted negotiations, the family and the
residents managed to take over the three Apollo buses, in a bid
to push for their demands.

Further talks were held after the incident on Monday attended
by the family of the victims, the Apollo management, the police
and the head of Ngaru-aru subdistrict.

Purwito, the spokesman for the victims' family, said that the
Apollo management were now offering Rp 15 million (US$1,875) in
compensation.

However, the family said that the amount was not enough.
Besides compensation, they also demanded the company pay the
hospital expenses for Sulastri, until she fully recovers.

The negotiation will continue on Tuesday.

Boyolali Police moved the three buses to the Boyolali Police
Headquarters, in order to a prevent possible attack by angry
residents, said Adj. Comr. Purnomo Subagyo, an officer with
Boyolali Police.