Drivers protest levies

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Thousands of passengers were stranded as hundreds of drivers of local angkot Roda Niaga transportation vehicles plying Kotabumi-Kalideres went on strike yesterday to protest various daily levies.

The drivers parked their vehicles along Jl. Achmad Yani and went to the legislative council to complain about the at least Rp 1,000 in daily levies.

Fourteen drivers representing the protesters said they must pay Rp 200 every time they enter roads from Kotabumi to Kalideres, and vica versa, from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. "We pay more if we pass the road more than once a day," a driver said.

They pay another Rp 300 when they enter the Pasar Baru market compound, and another Rp 500 to the head of the Kotabumi village.

The drivers also protested public transportation vehicles from another company which serve a new route, which is part of the Kotabumi-Kalideres route.

"The transportation vehicles have no official operation permit. So we demand that the legislator revoke their operation," said Rizal, one of the 14 drivers, who were accepted by legislators M. Ayat Sudayat and Krisna Gunata.

The drivers then complained about damaged roads, which they said could hamper their business.

Many people arrived at their offices late owing to the lack of transportation until noon. (18/sur)