Pedicab drivers stage protest

JAKARTA: About 100 members of the Association of Jakarta Becak (pedicab) Drivers staged a protest at the Ministry of Home Affairs, on Jl. Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta, demanding the revocation of the city bylaw on public order, which bans them from operating in the capital.

The protesters said that the bylaw No. 11/1988 should be replaced by one that was drafted by activists, and was submitted to the City Council earlier this week.

They argued that the legal basis of the current bylaw, No. 5/1974 on regional government, had been superseded by the issuance of the law on regional autonomy in 2000. Bylaw No. 11/1988 is also prone to violation as it gives the governor full authority to regulate public order, according to the association, which is an affiliation of the Urban Poor Consortium, Antara reported.

Based on the bylaw, city public order officials have carried out raids against the becak and confiscated the vehicles.

The becak drivers also demanded that the officers return their vehicles. -- JP