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)