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)