Pedicab drivers run amok in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Hundreds of becak (three-wheeled pedicab) drivers ran amok on Monday, destroying and throwing around 20 becak belonging to a Bogor pedicab repair station into a nearby river after their demand for the release of their pedicabs, netted by authorities on Thursday, was refuted.

Before the incident, a group of people had mobbed the Bogor mayoralty office protesting at the netting of their pedicabs, demanding that they be allowed to operate in Bogor.

Kholik, 67, owner of the repair station, said he had 100 becak which were all operable. Some of his pedicabs were among 35 pedicabs impounded by the authorities.

"The pedicab drivers were upset because the mayoralty office had turned down their demand, and because those who hired pedicabs from me didn't ride their pedicabs when demonstrating at the mayoralty office," Kholik said.

The protesters who crowded the mayor's office with their becak apparently congested Jl. H. Juanda for at least one hour.

Eight of the protesters were received by the mayoralty secretary, Itoch Tochjaya, chairman of Commission E of the mayoralty legislative council Eman Sulaeman and some other mayoralty officials.

"The raid on becak was meant to impose some order in Bogor. Things have been getting out of hand on the roads in Bogor recently, which had in the past held a fine reputation for its order and cleanliness," Itoch said. Itoch rejected the becak drivers' demand, and this led to their anger.

Records made by the mayoralty in 1997 indicated that Bogor had a total of 1,441 becak, most of them operate during daylight hours. (21/sur)