Governor urges action against UPC activist
Governor urges action against UPC activist
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso urged the Jakarta Police on
Wednesday to take all measures necessary against the recent
illegal street rally by becak (pedicab) drivers organized by the
Urban Poor Consortium (UPC).
In a letter dated Wednesday and addressed to Jakarta Police
chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, the governor stated that the
UPC action on Jan. 1, 2000 appeared to be instigating other
people as outlawed in Chapter V Article 160 of the Criminal Code
on Crimes Against Public Order.
Signed by his deputy for administration affairs Abdul Kahfi,
the letter also insisted the street rally, in which some 700
pedicab drivers took part, violated the 1988 Jakarta Regional
Regulation number 11 on public order and the 1988 Law number 9 on
freedom of speech in a public place.
"Therefore, we need help from the Jakarta Police chief to take
necessary action against such rallies, to uphold the law and
anticipate similar actions in the future," Sutiyoso stated in his
letter.
UPC, a nongovernmental organization, organized a group of 700
pedicab drivers on Saturday to illegally peddle their vehicles in
a convoy along the capital's major thoroughfares. They
congregated at the City Hall before moving to nearby Monas park
and then the popular Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
The rally, led by UPC chairperson Wardah Hafidz, attracted
only a few supporters other than pedicab drivers.
Sutiyoso said in his letter to the police, "UPC has launched a
systematic campaign to force the city administration to allow
pedicabs to operate again in the capital. They have held several
actions to force their demands."
"The organization has also collected signatures from 23,000
residents and 4,000 international sympathizers in an attempt to
widen support," Sutiyoso said.
"They (UPC executives) have also made administrative moves by
registering the pedicabs and their drivers, something which can
only be conducted by the city administration," he added.
When asked to comment on Sutiyoso's letter, Wardah insisted
that she was ready to face any risks.
"I'm ready. But it is the governor who should be reported to
the police for his policy on pedicabs," she told The Jakarta
Post.
She said it was Sutiyoso himself who initially allowed the
return of pedicabs to the city without first revoking the city
bylaw on that matter.
"But he then revoked his own policy after being criticized,"
she said.
Sutiyoso initially allowed Jakartan drivers to operate
pedicabs in 1988 when the monetary crisis was at its peak.
However, he retracted his remarks after the streets became
flooded with pedicabs from outside Jakarta.
"Soon after the Idul Fitri holiday, we'll file a lawsuit
against the city administration's policy banning pedicabs from
the city," Wardah added. (05)