Drivers strike in Tangerang

TANGERANG (JP): More than 400 drivers of public transportation vans went on strike yesterday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The drivers of R-11 vans plying the Perumnas-Cikokol route even forced passengers onboard R-14 vans, which they said followed a similar route, to get off.

Due to the heated circumstances, some R-14 drivers decided to stop operating too because they felt unsafe and under pressure.

The R-11 drivers demanded that the Tangerang administration and the local Land Transportation and Traffic Control agency stop issuing new operation permits to vans serving a similar route.

They said there were already too many vans, including unauthorized public transportation, and too much overlapping.

The protesters said the agency frequently issuing new permits to new vans saying that these vehicles were to replace the old ones.

"On the contrary, the old vans keep on roaring along the roads," said one driver, who asked for anonymity.

According to him, there are currently 30 new R-11 vans in addition to the existing 300 R-11 vans.

Dozen of trucks, deployed by the local military and administration, were transporting yesterday the stranded passengers, including students, for free.

The head of the Tangerang Land Transportation and Traffic Control agency, Daryanto, said: "We will conduct a study on the matter soon." (41/jun)