No more raids against 'becak'

No more raids against 'becak'

JAKARTA: Raids against becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) had come
to an end, with the authorities having seized 11,405 pedicabs in
the five mayoralties, head of the City Public Order Agency Firman
Hutadjulu said on Thursday.

He told City Hall reporters that the pedicabs had been netted
during operations conducted from Aug. 13 to Oct. 30.

"The operations ran smoothly and successfully," he said.

The pedicabs confiscated during the operations are being
stored at a Cakung warehouse, before being tossed into the ocean,
where they will act as fish shelters.

Many becak drivers resisted the raids. One civilian guard was
killed when a crackdown on the pedicabs in West Jakarta turned
violent.

Dozens of becak drivers even sued Governor Sutiyoso for
banning them from operating in the city. The trial was scheduled
to begin on Thursday, but was adjourned because the respondent's
lawyer failed to present the letter of attorney. --JP