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)