Drivers protest 'becak' bylaw

Drivers protest 'becak' bylaw

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

As the sole breadwinner of his family, becak (pedicab) driver
Jepri, who operates around Jl. Dr. Sitanala in Tangerang, takes
one day at a time. However, Tangerang administration's issuance
of Bylaw No. 5/2004 -- which limits becak operation downtown and
on main thoroughfares -- caught him unawares.

Then, last Friday morning, public order officers dumped his
becak into Cisadane river.

"Four becak drivers, including myself, stopped in the Pintu
Air area, near Jl. Daan Mogot, when public order officers
approached us and seized our becak," he recalled. "Without our
becak, we can't earn money to feed our families."

Jepri was one of hundreds of becak drivers who joined a mass
rally in front of Tangerang City Hall, to oppose the bylaw.

The bylaw, which took effect on Aug. 18, bans becak from
operating along Jl. Daan Mogot, Jl. Kisamaun, Jl. Dimyati and Jl.
Kiasnawi.

Becak drivers have complained over their treatment by public
order officers, whom, they claim, intentionally make their tires
flat, remove the seats from their becak and force their
passengers to get out and walk.

At Monday's rally, which started at 8:30 a.m., the drivers
were unable to meet directly with Mayor Wahidin Halim, as the
latter objected to the presence of Urban Poor Consortium (UPC)
activists, who accompanied them.

"I will only talk directly to representatives of becak drivers
who live and work in Tangerang," the mayor told The Jakarta Post
at his office.

"They can protest, but we will still implement the bylaw. I
don't have any problem with dealing with angry becak drivers.
It's their turn to scold their mayor."

Wahidin argued that the number of pedicabs operating in the
municipality had increased from 700 in 2000, to 3,000 this year.
Their presence has contributed to traffic congestion in the area.

The situation outside City Hall turned violent after a number
of people, claiming to be members of the Banten Islamic Front,
arrived at the site.

Angry becak drivers began to throw stones, sticks and mineral
water bottles at group members, who had asked the drivers to
comply with the bylaw. Police officers, who were standing guard,
attempted to calm down the drivers.

Separately, three of the becak drivers met with city secretary
Harry Mulya Zain, assistant to city secretary Affandi Permana and
public order agency head Edwan Firmansyah. They said the bylaw
would not be revoked.

"We need to uphold the bylaw for the safety of becak drivers,
their passengers and other road users," Harry said.

Dissatisfied drivers vowed to operate as usual. "We will
continue to operate and we will fight against public order
officers who have used violence against us," they shouted as they
left City Hall.