City public transportation back to normal
JAKARTA (JP): City public transportation returned back to normal as most minibus drivers ended their sit-in strike yesterday.
Passengers at many bus terminals and shelters were able to be commuted at most hours and the daily view of the packed, long lines of minibuses can be seen again at most terminals.
Meanwhile, the number of police and military personnel who had been deployed to help overcome the stranding of millions of commuters since the strikes began Tuesday, have been reduced.
They were only assigned yesterday to wear plain clothes to guard minibuses plying certain routes and to monitor certain points believed to have been the gathering places of other drivers and other people planning to continue the strikes and threaten others to join.
When the strike reached its peak during the first two days, the authorities deployed hundreds of police and military personnel in uniform to carry stranded passengers in police vehicles and minibuses, which had been abandoned by their drivers.
After the strike the huge Blok M bus terminal in South Jakarta, for example, had 872 of the 1,225 buses which normally use the terminal in operation, restoring the most crowded terminal back to its normal hectic condition.
Most drivers contacted by The Jakarta Post yesterday admitted that the reason for them to resume work was mainly due to their own self awareness.
They, however, hoped that the recent strikes would widely open the eyes of the public and the authorities about the plight of the minibus drivers.
"Nobody forced me to return but it's my own decision out of my own conscience to drive this bus again starting today," said Alwi, a driver of the S605 Kopaja minibus plying Kampung Rambutan - Blok M route.
Family
Ramli Sormen, a Metro Mini minibus driver serving the Lebak Bulus and Blok M route, said: "When the owner asked me last night whether I wanted to work again, I immediately decided to accept her offer as I have to feed my family."
The drivers also look forward to seeing the enforcement of law upon police personnel who ticket them without standard procedure, and upon commuters who attempt to board or alight public vehicles at prohibited places.
"Deep in our hearts, we absolutely want to see the government's pledge to take stern measures not only against the drivers," said Ramli Sormen.
Sembiring, a Metro Mini driver of the Tanah Abang - Pasar Minggu route, said: "We have no idea what to do next if the police still ticket us under the new fine scale without giving any attention to our arguments."
The massive strikes were apparently sparked by the new fine scale which penalizes traffic violators between Rp 10,000 (US$4.60) and Rp 150,000, which is much higher than the previous fines.
Most of the protesters especially object to the high fine imposed on drivers who leave their bus doors opened while in motion. The new fine was raised to Rp 125,000 from Rp 15,600 previously.
"The police gave us a ticket even though the door was opened by our passengers," said Badin, a driver of Metro Mini.
The strikes were believed to have been initiated by and committed mostly by drivers of the 30-seat orange Metro Mini minibuses, which -- according to police data -- account for 40 percent of the total traffic violations in the city.
Resign
In a related development, a number of drivers of Metro Mini buses have decided to quit their jobs and plan to go back to their villages, while others try to find other work.
Pangaloan Simatupang, a commissioner of PT Metro Mini, which is assigned to oversee the minibuses, confirmed the resignations but could not say how many of them had quit their jobs.
"They submitted the resignations directly to the employers, so I have no data," he said.
Meanwhile, the city police have yet to decide on the status of the 35 protesters who were arrested during the strikes.
"I have no idea about that but I strongly believe that they are still being questioned," said City Police spokesman Lt. Col. A. Latief Rabar yesterday. (bsr)