Ferryman provides lesson for development

Ferryman provides lesson for development

By A'an Suryana

BOGOR (JP): Development -- throughout the world -- always
claims victims. And the victims, in so many cases, are usually
the poor.

Saefuddin, 21, is probably the most obvious victim in the
construction of a bridge crossing the Cisadane River which
connects Gunung Sindur and Sukamulya subdistricts in Bogor.

His raft business which carries people, motorcycles and
animals back and forth from Gunung Sindur to Sukamulya will end
soon as the 150-meter-long and six-meter-wide steel bridge opens
at the beginning of next week.

"This business has been running for four generations,"
Saefuddin told The Jakarta Post in an interview on Tuesday at a
small hut, a few steps away from the bridge.

According to him and Kosim, the younger brother of Saefuddin's
grandfather Zainudin, the family began the river crossing
business at the beginning of the twentieth century.

"I don't know the precise time as to when the business
started. I just remember that, during my teenage years, I started
assisting my father Wahab during the Japanese occupation (in the
1940s)," said Kosim, a man in his 70s.

Both Kosim and Saefuddin said their family depended upon the
raft business for their livelihood even though some of the family
members hold other temporary jobs.

With the price of Rp 1,000 (10 U.S. cents) for each motorcycle
and Rp 500 per person per crossing, family member (s) usually
spend 14 hours every day assisting scores of people and
motorbikes across the river.

"During the dry season, the bamboo raft is usually piloted by
one person from the family.

But in the rainy season, other people in the family are
required to help because the waves can be strong," said Kosim.

Saefuddin added: If no additional people are involved, the
raft is simply dragged downstream by the strong currents."

Saefuddin said the business enabled him to support his family.

"Since my father passed away two months ago, I have to
financially support my mother and my eight younger brothers and
sisters," said Saefuddin, while refusing to mention his average
earnings per day.

He said he started to take on the raft business last year
shortly after he lost his job at a leather factory in Tangerang
for personal reasons.

He then assisted his father Saudin until the latter's death
earlier this year.

"We take anything, from people, motorcycles, even pet animals,
though we aren't able to accept cars," he said.

Saefuddin said he had no fear at all about possible attacks
from robbers.

"The area is quite busy, so I'm not really afraid of bad
people if I work at night."

They operate the raft virtually everyday of the year.

"Even, in the severest dry season, the river never runs out of
water so we can still transport people across the river," said
Kosim.

Cisadane is a major river crossing several parts of West Java,
the newly-established Banten province, and Jakarta.

Some of the people using the family's service are poor people
living near the rivers edge.

"Once, I was paid with a plate, as the person didn't have any
money," said Kosim.

With the completion of the bridge next week, Saefuddin and his
family still have no idea about the fate of their raft business
and how he can financially support his big family in the future.

"People will not use the raft anymore. Unfortunately, I don't
have any other ideas on how to get another job," he said.