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)