Commuters stranded by driver strike

PADANG, West Sumatra: Thousands of commuters were left stranded on Tuesday when public transportation drivers plying the Pariaman-Padang route went on strike to protest the local administration's decision to relocate a bus terminal.

This was the first action since the drivers took to the streets four days ago to protest last week's opening of Jati Pariaman bus terminal, some five kilometers from the old bus terminal.

The drivers gathered on Tuesday in front of the office of the Pariaman regent, claiming their incomes had fallen because fewer passengers were willing to go to the new terminal to catch their buses.

"Passengers who want to go to Padang prefer to take the buses from Pasaman and Lubuk Basung," one of the protesters said.

The protesters also asked the drivers of buses plying the Pasaman-Pariaman and Lubuk Basung-Pariaman routes to stop their operations to show support for the action.

The drivers said they no longer could earn even the Rp 150,000 a day they had to pay the bus owners.

"We have to give the vehicle owners between Rp 150,000 and Rp 200,000 each day, but now we make less than Rp 150,000 a day," one of the drivers said.

Pariaman Regent Muslim Kasim said the administration would consider the drivers' complaints. (28/sur)