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.