Half of PPD's bus fleet damaged in student brawls

JAKARTA (JP): The state-run PPD transportation company yesterday disclosed almost half its fleet had been damaged by brawling students in the last nine months.

The company's spokesman, Moch. Khamin Busro said the damage on 532 buses, from a total of the 1,196 owned by PPD, had caused total losses of around Rp 110 million (US$46,630).

Busro said between 1990 and 1995, student brawls had damaged 4,995 buses, forcing the company to absorb a total of almost Rp 4 billion in damages billed.

The company operates regular, non-AC express, AC express and tourist buses. "Only the tourist buses haven't been damaged by students," Khamin said.

Brawls among secondary high school students have become common sights in the city, with police failing to quell the problem, despite considerable effort.

City public buses have become targets of the "warring" groups of students, because many of their "enemies" use the buses for transport and protection.

Busro said there were at least 12 places where student brawls have destroyed parts of public PPD buses. "Pasar Baru, Galur- Cempaka Putih and Jl. Pramuka in Central Jakarta, Matraman- Jatinegara and Cawang UKI in East Jakarta, and Grogol, Kota (downtown) and Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta, are all prone to student brawls," he said.

He continued PPD subsidizes students by setting fares at only Rp 100 per student, while the official fare for regular bus users is Rp 300 per person.

He said students involved in brawls were usually brutal, citing last Tuesday's incident when a PPD PATAS bus driver was attacked by students on a bus, in front of Gedung Kesenian in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.

The driver, Robinson Hasibuan, tried to mediate a heated quarrel between his assistant, Amir Hutabarat, and a group of students after one of the students tried to steal Amir's money, Busro said.

The students allegedly attacked him, slashing his hand with a short sword. Khamim said Robinson is currently being treated in a military hospital. (kod)