Drivers go on strike

BANDUNG: Hundreds of public transport drivers held a noisy strike yesterday, causing heavy traffic congestion and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Antara reported that the drivers of minibuses for the Tegallega-Banjaran route refused to take passengers and, instead, began a slow procession along the Banjaran Road, honking their horns all the time.

The strike, which started at around 8 a.m. and ended some six hours later, was held to protest the setting up by the authorities of new routes for some 400 additional minibuses which also start and finish at Banjaran.

The striking drivers were concerned that the new routes would increase competition.

"How can we pay for the daily rental fees or our debts, if the authorities add new buses to the already packed route," Wawan, one of the drivers, said.

The land transportation control agency promised to reconsider the new routes. (swe)