Minivan drivers on strike

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of public transportation minivans serving Tangerang Perumnas II-Cikokol bus terminal routes went on strike at Cibodas terminal on Wednesday to demand the Tangerang Land Transportation Agency halt the operation of some 300 other minivans that were without operational licenses.

The strike stranded hundreds of passengers for at least 5 hours.

One of the striking drivers, Sucipto, 48, said that some 750 minivans operated along the routes, but only 423 held operating licenses.

"We protested to the agency last month and they promised to conduct a raid on those illegal minivans," he said.

"But instead of raiding them, the agency simply issued 50 new licenses to 50 other minivans serving the same route. As a result, our earnings automatically reduced," he told journalists.

Another protester alleged that the agency produced new operating licenses after they had received bribes from the vehicle owner.(41)