Pedicab drivers gear up for verdict
Pedicab drivers gear up for verdict
JAKARTA (JP): Over 1,000 people, mostly becak (pedicab)
drivers, will be waiting at the Central Jakarta District Court on
Monday for the outcome of a lawsuit filed on their behalf against
Governor Sutiyoso.
"If the plaintiffs (pedicab drivers) lose the lawsuit, we will
appeal to the Jakarta High Court. If they win, then there will be
a sort of (pedicab) parade around the city," Urban Poor
Consortium (UPC) spokeswoman Wardah Hafidz said on Friday.
Basing his decision on an existing city bylaw, the governor
prohibited pedicab drivers from operating in the capital in
February. Shortly after he did this, however, several media
quoted him as saying that he welcomed pedicabs on the city's
streets in an effort to help them deal with the economic crisis.
"UPC members have told the pedicab drivers that if we lose, we
can still appeal. The drivers have also been told to mind their
discipline and to control themselves when the verdict is being
read," Wardah explained.
She added that despite having warned the drivers, she could
only guarantee that she had done her best.
"But if there are external influences that stir up the
drivers, how can we control them? We can't foresee what will
happen later," Wardah said.
On the other hand, should the drivers win the lawsuit, she
said there would be a sort a parade in the capital where they
would cycle around picking up passengers on their way.
"If the drivers win, whatever they do, they will do without
violating traffic regulations," Wardah said.
The lawsuit was filed in February by 139 pedicab drivers, who
claimed to be acting on behalf of 6,000 fellow pedicab drivers in
the capital.
Given the fact that the Central Jakarta District Court is
located in the busy Gadjah Mada business district, which is
crammed with shopping centers, massage parlors and office
complexes, Monday's session and its aftermath could turn into a
major headache for law enforcers.
Raya Siahaan of the city's Center for Social Disturbance
Control said on Friday that nobody could really guarantee the
safety of the capital's streets.
"Even if Wardah gives a guarantee from her side, what if
provocateurs slip into the pedicab clan and provoke them into
causing riots. The city administration is not taking any
chances," Raya said.
He added that deputy governor of administration affairs Abdul
Kahfi had already spoken about the matter to senior officers at
the Jakarta Police Headquarters and the Central Jakarta Police
precinct in a meeting on Thursday at City Hall.
"Some 200 officers will definitely be deployed around the
district court area," Raya said.
Separately, Central Jakarta Police chief of operational
control Maj. Ricky F. Wakanno said that at least 300 officers
from the city police and the Central Jakarta Police will be
deployed in the Gadjah Mada and Roxy Mas areas.
"The officers will comprise of police detectives, intelligence
officers, police patrol units and others. City police will
provide more backup should something more serious occur," Ricky
said.
In their lawsuit, the pedicab drivers demanded the governor
allow them operate in certain areas in the city, such as housing
complexes and traditional markets.
At a previous hearing, Sutiyoso, in his defense statement,
rejected the plaintiffs' accusation that the administration
resorted to violence when clearing the pedicabs from the streets.
The administration, Sutiyoso said, initially offered to pay
pedicab drivers Rp 250,000 if they were willing to voluntarily
hand over their vehicles to the government.
The administration also offered training to the pedicab
drivers so that they could find other jobs.
The governor claimed that the drivers had agreed to the
proposals.
"A total of 2,978 pedicab drivers have handed over their
pedicabs, while 1,694 others have returned to their hometowns,"
he said. (ylt)
JAKARTA (JP): Over 1,000 people, mostly becak (pedicab)
drivers, will be waiting at the Central Jakarta District Court on
Monday for the outcome of a lawsuit filed on their behalf against
Governor Sutiyoso.
"If the plaintiffs (pedicab drivers) lose the lawsuit, we will
appeal to the Jakarta High Court. If they win, then there will be
a sort of (pedicab) parade around the city," Urban Poor
Consortium (UPC) spokeswoman Wardah Hafidz said on Friday.
Basing his decision on an existing city bylaw, the governor
prohibited pedicab drivers from operating in the capital in
February. Shortly after he did this, however, several media
quoted him as saying that he welcomed pedicabs on the city's
streets in an effort to help them deal with the economic crisis.
"UPC members have told the pedicab drivers that if we lose, we
can still appeal. The drivers have also been told to mind their
discipline and to control themselves when the verdict is being
read," Wardah explained.
She added that despite having warned the drivers, she could
only guarantee that she had done her best.
"But if there are external influences that stir up the
drivers, how can we control them? We can't foresee what will
happen later," Wardah said.
On the other hand, should the drivers win the lawsuit, she
said there would be a sort a parade in the capital where they
would cycle around picking up passengers on their way.
"If the drivers win, whatever they do, they will do without
violating traffic regulations," Wardah said.
The lawsuit was filed in February by 139 pedicab drivers, who
claimed to be acting on behalf of 6,000 fellow pedicab drivers in
the capital.
Given the fact that the Central Jakarta District Court is
located in the busy Gadjah Mada business district, which is
crammed with shopping centers, massage parlors and office
complexes, Monday's session and its aftermath could turn into a
major headache for law enforcers.
Raya Siahaan of the city's Center for Social Disturbance
Control said on Friday that nobody could really guarantee the
safety of the capital's streets.
"Even if Wardah gives a guarantee from her side, what if
provocateurs slip into the pedicab clan and provoke them into
causing riots. The city administration is not taking any
chances," Raya said.
He added that deputy governor of administration affairs Abdul
Kahfi had already spoken about the matter to senior officers at
the Jakarta Police Headquarters and the Central Jakarta Police
precinct in a meeting on Thursday at City Hall.
"Some 200 officers will definitely be deployed around the
district court area," Raya said.
Separately, Central Jakarta Police chief of operational
control Maj. Ricky F. Wakanno said that at least 300 officers
from the city police and the Central Jakarta Police will be
deployed in the Gadjah Mada and Roxy Mas areas.
"The officers will comprise of police detectives, intelligence
officers, police patrol units and others. City police will
provide more backup should something more serious occur," Ricky
said.
In their lawsuit, the pedicab drivers demanded the governor
allow them operate in certain areas in the city, such as housing
complexes and traditional markets.
At a previous hearing, Sutiyoso, in his defense statement,
rejected the plaintiffs' accusation that the administration
resorted to violence when clearing the pedicabs from the streets.
The administration, Sutiyoso said, initially offered to pay
pedicab drivers Rp 250,000 if they were willing to voluntarily
hand over their vehicles to the government.
The administration also offered training to the pedicab
drivers so that they could find other jobs.
The governor claimed that the drivers had agreed to the
proposals.
"A total of 2,978 pedicab drivers have handed over their
pedicabs, while 1,694 others have returned to their hometowns,"
he said. (ylt)