Drivers strike in Tangerang

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)