'I was robbed by 10 crooks'
Traffic jams are not the only difficulties facing commuters. Crimes committed on public transportation vehicles often leave the victims traumatized. Some of them shared their experiences with The Jakarta Post.
Anton, 40, is an assistant manager in a department store in Permata Hijau, South Jakarta. He lives in Tangerang with his wife and only son, and has been there for more than 20 years:
Public transportation is the worst. No one now feels safe taking public transportation.
I think the correct conditions will last much longer than most of us realize. It is, if I may say so, almost impossible to eradicate street crime. Everyone has to fight hard to survive and they are sometimes forced to commit crimes to survive.
The law and its enforcers are no longer effective in coping with the problems. For instance, students are becoming even more violent. They even hijack public transportation vehicles. And what can the authorities do to deal with it? Nothing.
I am still traumatized by when I was robbed by more than 10 crooks who left me with nothing but the clothes on my back in a bus on Jl. Thamrin several years ago.
Atik, 28, is a councillor at the Pembangunan Jaya school in Bintaro. She was born and still resides in Condet, East Jakarta, with her family:
Public transportation is not safe at all. The public are frightened by the frequency with which crimes take place aboard buses.
I had a traumatic experience when I was threatened with a knife held to my side on a public minivan heading to Cililitan. I lost Rp 20,000, the only money I had in my wallet. Luckily my valuables and camera were safe in my bag as the crooks -- five of them who pretended to be passengers and were in cahoots with the driver -- knew nothing about them.
Recalling the nightmare, I've have learned to always be on the alert. Now I prefer going out by taxi, especially after 9 p.m.
It's useless to rely on the police. The best thing to do is to look poor because if we show off our valuables, we are only inviting the bandits to rob us.
It's good to make a quick plan when we want to go out so that we can arrange what to bring, where to go, how much to spend and so on. Good planning will, at least, minimize the possibility of becoming a victim of crime.
Ana, 24, is newly-hired employee of a state-owned bank in Slipi, West Jakarta. She just came to Jakarta last month from her hometown in Salatiga, Central Java:
I don't worry too much taking public transportation despite the fact that I'm just a newcomer.
I always think that if I show fear it will only encourage the thieves.
But I don't deny the fact that my friends keep telling me about their harrowing experiences riding on public transportation.
From what my friends say, I have learned to be always watchful for the unexpected.
I don't take taxis or bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicle) as they are also prone to crimes.
I prefer to ride ojek (motorcycle taxis) to other kinds of public transportation.
Hastin, 32, is an employee of the Taman Anggrek shopping mall who lives with her husband in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta. She comes from Yogyakarta and has been living in the city for six years:
I'm scared to death now if I have to use public transportation. I have to be on the watch at all times for street criminals.
I often see crimes being committed on public transportation vehicles. I myself have often come close to becoming a victim when criminals tried to steal my valuables. I could feel them rummaging in my bag but I couldn't do anything because the bus was so crowded. Thank God, they didn't find anything. I never thought about these things before.
When I came here six years ago, I used to go everywhere without worrying too much about street crime. But now, I always think twice before taking public transportation.
I think we need to increase cooperation between the public and the police. The police have so far failed to take any real action against the criminals.
It will take a very long time to improve the situation as the feeling of insecurity here has much to do with corruption in the police force, poor infrastructure and complex social problems.