Many stranded as Bogor, Jakarta drivers strike

Many stranded as Bogor, Jakarta drivers strike

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta and Bogor public transportation
passengers became victims of yet more strikes yesterday, as
thousands were forced to walk long distances.

The strike was mostly caused by additional buses and too many
fleets plying similar routes, drivers and a bus owner said.

In Bogor, all 13 routes went on strike following yesterday's
protest by 300 Sukasari-Merdeka route drivers.

Drivers said they were forced to strike by others. At least
two vehicles had their windows smashed, but it could not be
confirmed whether drivers were directly involved. A strike was
also reported in Pasar Kemis, Tangerang.

Eman, a driver who was trying to work, said, "I haven't
collected any money today. How can I help my wife and kids
survive?"

Some drivers resumed work by late afternoon.

Other drivers complained to the Bogor township about too many
legal and illegal minivans operating in the city.

In South and East Jakarta, hundreds of M16 minivans plying the
Pasar Minggu-Kampung Melayu route and drivers of M02 minivans
plying the Pulogadung-Kampung Melayu route entered their second
day of strikes.

Drivers of M01 vans plying the Kampung Melayu-Senen route and
drivers of M31 minivans along the Pondok Kelapa-Kampung Melayu
route also went on strike.

In West Jakarta, people waited in vain along streets for
Grogol-Joglo Metromini buses, whose drivers were protesting new
buses operated by the Koperasi Wahana Kalpika cooperative passing
their route.

Hundreds of passengers, including students and employees, were
seen waiting on Jl. Dewi Sartika and Jl. Otista in East Jakarta.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday
police had deployed at least 20 covered trucks to pick up
passengers for the Pasar Minggu-Kampung Melayu route.

The Kampung Melayu terminal was full of anxious passengers.

Around 200 drivers and dozens of minivans were seen gathered
on Jl. Kalibata, South Jakarta. Drivers then demonstrated in
front of the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) in Tanah
Abang, Central Jakarta.

Banners

Among banners displayed, one read, "We will continue to strike
until new permits for new vehicles are revoked."

Saragih, a M16 van driver, said he and his fellow friends were
ready for a month-long strike until their demands were met.

Hundreds of drivers had complained to the House of
Representatives on Monday, but apparently had not been given
promising solutions.

At the Senen bus terminal, passengers searched for means to
their destinations, since M01 drivers joined the strike.

Hundreds of passengers were also seen waiting for Metromini
buses plying the 24-kilometer Grogol-Joglo route, since drivers
entered their second day of a strike.

Drivers complained to the West Jakarta mayoralty about new B17
buses run by the Wahana Kalpika cooperative, plying the new
Citraland-Kreo route.

An employee at the West Jakarta Land Transportation Agency
said the new route had gained approval from the Organization of
Land Transportation Owners (Organda).

The B17 buses had earlier sparked a strike among drivers
plying routes to Kebayoran Lama, Tanah Abang and Kebon Jeruk
areas.

Chief of DLLAJ, J.P. Sepang, said the agency has not issued
permits for new routes for the past two years. But the result of
new vehicles being added was because "the limited number of
vehicles for each route has not been covered (in the permits)".

However, he said, if the agency decided that the number of
vehicles for one particular route was enough, new vehicles would
not be added.

He said he had ordered all DLLAJ offices to review which
routes were overcrowded.

On the possibility of owners operating old vehicles while they
had obtained permits for new ones, Sepang said permits would be
revoked if the agency found out such practices.

Aritonang said there might be other parties taking advantage
of the strikes.

"Drivers' complaints regarding overcrowded routes might be
true. But their brutal actions by destroying other drivers'
vehicles who do not strike is shocking," he said.

He said at least five drivers were questioned at West Jakarta
Police precinct during the strikes.

Chairwoman Tini Hadad from the Indonesian Consumer Association
said DLLAJ and Organda should cooperate and settle the problem
once and for all.

Tini said both parties should also talk to drivers and find
out what the real problems were. She suggested rerouting all
crowded routes to relatively empty ones.

The City Development Planning Board is presently conducting a
study on public transportation with researchers of the Bandung
Institute of Technology. (jun/cst/10/12/24/ste)