City affirms commitment to clear streets of 'becak'

City affirms commitment to clear streets of 'becak'

JAKARTA (JP): Striving hard to restore order in the capital,
the City Administration renewed its commitment on Thursday to
continue raids on becak (pedicab) operations.

The commitment was aired by Deputy Governor for Administration
Affairs Abdul Kahfi after chairing a leadership meeting of city
authorities at City Hall, discussing programs and efforts to
restore security and order in the capital.

"The becak-free policy will be maintained despite a recent
ruling by the Central Jakarta District Court, which granted a
limited pedicab operation here.

"An official of the Jakarta High Court told the meeting that
the ruling does not have a legal binding impact yet, as the
prosecution is not yet completed," Kahfi said, while referring to
a statement by deputy chief of the Jakarta High Court Ismun
Abdulrochim.

He cited that the city administration had filed an appeal to
the Jakarta High Court over the court's ruling.

The district court ruled in favor of the pedicab drivers on
July 31, 2000, declaring that the Jakarta Governor's ban on their
operations, which was based on the city Bylaw No. 11/1988, was
unlawful.

The court said pedicab drivers were allowed to operate in and
around residential areas, marketplaces and other selected areas
in the capital.

Soon after the court ruling, some pedicab drivers resumed
operations in the streets of Jl. Kebon Kacang near the luxurious
shopping center Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta and in the
Bandengan area, North Jakarta, creating serious traffic
congestion in the areas.

Data provided by community-based non-governmental organization
the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) stated there were about 7,000
pedicab drivers in the city.

UPC coordinator Wardah Hafidz said recently that there were 54
main places and another 460 less popular spots in the city, which
are accessible for pedicab operations.

Kahfi claimed that limited becak operations would only be
possible if current related regulations were revised.

"The decision to allow limited operations for pedicab drivers
cannot be implemented as long as the administration has not
revised the bylaw," he said.

He added that it would not be easy to amend the bylaw, since
it would require the City Council's involvement, which is
unlikely.

"Until a new bylaw is endorsed, the administration will
continue rounding up the pedicabs." (lup)