Commuters bemoan unfair minivan fares

Commuters bemoan unfair minivan fares

JAKARTA (JP): With public minivan transportation fares
increasing, today it was the commuters' turn to express
dissatisfaction over price rises as fares in some cities began to
spiral beyond the expected average.

While most local administrations were endorsing a fare hike of
around 25 percent, passengers in some cities were being charged
double that rate.

Many commuters in Jakarta were shocked on Tuesday to discover
that their fare had escalated by as much as 30 percent, despite
that fact that the city administration had not officially
endorsed a fare increase for angkot public minivans.

One public minivan driver, Selamat Siahaan, who serves the
Senen-Kampung Melayu route in Central Jakarta, said he was asking
his passengers to pay an extra Rp 200 on the usual fare of about
Rp 700.

"I'm politely asking passengers to increase the fare because
of the fuel price hike. Some understand but others paid the extra
cost with a little grumble," Siahaan said.

Another driver plying the Kebon Jeruk-Tanah Abang route said
he had not increased the fare, but hoped that passengers would
voluntarily give a little extra.

"I didn't ask for more, but I happily received it if
passengers gave extra," the driver said on Tuesday.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said the public transport fare
increase was still being discussed and would be announced on
Wednesday.

He urged minivan drivers not to increase the fares before the
administration's decision was announced.

"They will be given sanctions if they are found increasing the
fares," he warned, to apparent disregard.

City Council speaker Edy Waluyo also urged the administration
to take stern action against drivers who were already charging
extra.

In Bandung, West Java, despite the local administration
consenting to raise fares for public transport minivans by 25
percent, some commuters were being charged higher increases than
that on Tuesday.

Desri Muhardini, a student at the state-run Padjajaran
University, said on Tuesday she was charged Rp 600, compared to
the previous fare of Rp 400.

"I was so surprised because, logically, I only have to pay Rp
500 but the driver told me to pay Rp 600," she said.

Wati, a housewife who lives in the Paledang housing complex,
said she and her neighbors had been charged Rp 1,200 instead of
the regular fare of Rp 700.

"This is crazy! If I have to go out, I'll use a public bus
who's fare is not affected by the fuel price hike," she said.

West Java Governor R. Nuriana has ordered his subordinates to
closely monitor the price rises as he feared public minivan
drivers were using the opportunity to raise fares beyond the
agreed figure.

"It is unfortunate that we have not received any official
complaints from the public regarding fares being raised by more
than 25 percent," the governor's assistant, Murtedjo, said.

The government's decision to raise fuel prices by 30 percent
has been met with demands from public minivan drivers to raise
their fares.

Public buses operated by local administrations are subsidized
and have not increased their fares. The smaller minivans are
mostly privately operated and do not receive subsidies.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the situation gradually returned
to normal on Tuesday after a massive strike by drivers on Monday.

The local administration announced that fares could be
increased by between 20 percent and 30 percent.

Secretary of the Makassar administration Farid Suaib said the
new fares were effective as of Tuesday, with special allowances
given to students.

"For public transport, the administration agrees to raise the
fare to Rp 900 and Rp 1,000 from the previous Rp 700, while for
students the fare is increased from Rp 500 to Rp 600," Farid
said.

In Yogyakarta, Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said the
administration was still discussing a reasonable figure for the
public transport fare hike.

He admitted that many public minivans had raised fares
illegally but added that, "there would not be any punishment
since no new regulation on the fare had been ratified."

Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed sympathy for
the suffering of the people as a result of the fuel price hike
but suggested that implementation of the policy was the only way
to prevent a worsening of the economic crisis.

The President also urged security forces and police to be more
patient when confronting protesters and allow them to express
their views.

Separately, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri also
defended the fuel price hike, arguing that there was no other
choice for the nation but to accept the policy.

"Ibu Megawati was not happy when she had to make the decision
but there was no other option," Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy chairman Roy B. Janis said on
Tuesday.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Agum Gumelar called on students to be conscious of "third
parties" who may exploit their protests to create chaos.

In a related development, House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung called on students to remain patient because the
fuel price hike was aimed at reducing the state budget deficit
and allocating assistance to the needy.

"The withdrawal of the fuel subsidy is the best alternative at
present to cover the state budget deficit, while a part of the
subsidy will be given to the needy," he said. (team)