More minivans rev up protests

More minivans rev up protests

JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta administration's policy to
allow five more public transport minivans B-06 to ply the Kamal-
Kota route has met with angry protests from owners of those
already in service.

Van owners and their employees grouped in Wahana Kalpika
Cooperative fear that the additional vans, which first hit the
road on April 2, will delete their income.

They vented their anger in a meeting with cooperative
officials on Thursday in which they demanded that the authorities
withdraw the operation permit of the new vans.

Earlier this week, drivers had gone on strike to dramatize
their objection to the additional fleet but there had been no
sign the administration would review the permit, Antara reported.

Owners and drivers of the old B-06 vans argued that their
daily income had been meager recently because many regular
customers lost their jobs in the crisis.

"Numbers of passengers are decreasing everyday. What will
happen if more vans are allowed to operate?" asked Silalahi, the
owner of one of the old vans.

Masban, who represented the cooperative management in the
meeting, said his only recourse was to refer the complaint to the
administration. (pan)