Kebayoran Lama drivers protest new bus operation

JAKARTA (JP): At least 2,000 public transport drivers plying the Tanah Abang-Kebayoran Lama route went on strike yesterday after a new bus route was discovered to pass a similar route.

Drivers displayed copies of route permits for new red Kijang vans issued for the Koperasi Wahana Kalpika (KWK) cooperative by the City Land Traffic and Control Agency.

"The new drivers violate our route, they should not pass Kebayoran Lama," a driver from the M09 route said. The driver, Andi, said the permits did not allow the new vans to pass by Kebayoran Lama.

Bewildered passengers, including elderly couples and those carrying heavy burdens, were asked to leave M09 buses on Jl. Palmerah Barat, and were forced to continue on foot before they found other means of transport.

The strike started at noon with drivers telling others to stop taking passengers, while other drivers and bus owners went to meet Agency authorities at the Jatibaru office in Central Jakarta.

"We have already tried complaining to the Agency, but we're forced to go on strike because there was no response," a driver who has worked 35 years said. He refused to identify himself.

Income has dropped from Rp 15,000 (US$6.14) to Rp 5,000 a day since the new vans went into operation, while drivers have to pay a daily average of Rp 50,000 per bus to owners, drivers said.

Route M09 drivers also urged drivers from routes 9A and M11, which have similar routes, to join the strike.

"M11 (which plies the Kebon Jeruk-Tanah Abang route) is also harmed by KWK's violation," another driver, Ardi, said.

Drivers said there were around 800 M09 buses, with up to three drivers separately operating each vehicle every day, as well as 90 9A buses and 400 M11 buses.

The permit for the new buses, according to a copy of a form called a "supervision card", showed the route going between the Grogol River in West Jakarta and Kreo in South Jakarta, passing among others, Kebon Jeruk toll road, Pos Pengumben, Cidodol and Jl. Raya Ciledug.

An employee requesting anonymity said the KWK vans, which started operating a month ago, only amounted to 16 vehicles.

"We're only on a trial period," the employee said. KWK management staff were not available for comment.

The driver who claimed he had worked 35 years said the M9 route was the oldest existing route in the area, "since the time of wooden cars," in reference to Austin oplet vehicles.

Drivers said one M09 bus owner has driven up to 10 different vehicles over the years. M09 buses are owned by several cooperatives -- Kopamilet Jaya, Purimas Jaya, Kojang, Komilet Jaya, among others.

"Yesterday at the Jatibaru office (of the Land Transport Agency) we saw permits for 390 buses. But there are at least twice that many," another driver said, saying that they had no idea how the difference in figures could have happened.

In response to how long they were going to strike, the drivers said they would continue until there was a satisfactory answer from a meeting between bus owners and authorities. (anr)