Minibus drivers go on strike

JAKARTA (JP): Tens of driver of minibus plying the route of Bekasi bus terminal-Rawalumbu area in Greater Jakarta went on a strike yesterday to protest the operation of new minibuses with no proper licenses.

The new buses started the operation on Thursday morning and the protesters believed that operation was backed by influential officials.

They said that the presence of the new buses will decrease their daily earning since the distance between the terminal and Rawalumbu only four kilometers.

The drivers said that originally only 47 minibuses plying Bekasi terminal-Rawalumbu.

They said the operation of the new buses made the competition tougher among them.

The strike left thousands of people, mostly students hang around in the terminals all day.

The Bekasi Township Council Speaker, H. Abdul Manan, said that he will accommodate the drivers' complaint and will contact the township military command to reprimand the people who backed the operation of the minibuses.(12/mas)