Pedicab drivers stage rally

Pedicab drivers stage rally

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of becak (pedicab) drivers staged a
rally in front of the city council on Saturday, demanding
Governor Sutiyoso allow them to operate in the city.

Organized by Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) chairwoman Wardah
Hafidz, the pedicab drivers submitted a proposal to on-duty
security officials at City Hall. The proposal reportedly
contained hundreds of signatures, including some from foreigners,
who supported pedicab operation in the capital.

When asked about the reasons for staging a rally on the first
day of 2000, Wardah said the pedicab drivers only wanted to
remind Sutiyoso that the third millennium is a century of
sovereignty and justice for ordinary people.

"Thus, this time the governor should pay more attention to
people who live below the poverty line," Hafidz told Antara.

Sutiyoso allowed pedicab drivers into the city in 1998 due to
the prolonged economic crisis. As numbers increased
significantly, Sutiyoso revoked his statement in May last year
and ordered city public order officials to conduct raids on
pedicabs.

The ban on becak won the support of President Abdurrahman
Wahid, who suggested pedicab drivers look for other jobs. The
President, however, revised his policy by allowing the pedicabs
to operate in residential areas.

The protesters, who failed to enter the governor's office,
later dispersed peacefully after Wardah delivered their petition
to a city security official. (imn)