Pedicab drivers upset over forgotten promise of jobs

Pedicab drivers upset over forgotten promise of jobs

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of becak (three-wheeled pedicab) drivers
staged a protest at the city council on Wednesday, claiming that
Governor Sutiyoso had earlier promised to provide them with jobs.

"Until now, Sutiyoso's promise has not been fulfilled. We feel
like we've been had," Wisa Budianto, the chairman of the Betawi
(native Jakartan) pedicab drivers' association, told reporters.

Wisa claimed that during a meeting between Sutiyoso, council
chairman Edy Waluyo and the pedicab drivers on Sept. 4, the
governor had offered the drivers employment in plantations in
Jambi and Riau if they stopped working as becak drivers.

He said Sutiyoso also promised to find other jobs for the
drivers, such as working as security guards in private companies,
or to set them up as food vendors or with other small businesses.

"The governor also promised to provide working capital for
drivers wanting to become food vendors or develop small
enterprises," the father of four children said.

But he said city officials had demanded collateral, such as
land certificates or motorcycle ownership documents, when the
drivers had applied for such funds.

"We are poor people, we don't have such things," Wisa said
without mentioning the amount of assistance promised by the city.

Another pedicab driver, Tukimin, said that during the meeting
Edy Waluyo had also promised to give drivers who were not Jakarta
residents city ID cards if they were willing to stop working as
becak drivers.

"We were even promised motorcycles," Tukimin, who is the
chairman of the Pedicab Welfare Drivers' Association, said.

Feeling cheated, the drivers, who had earlier promised the
administration that they would park up their becak, have now
repudiated the earlier agreement and joined with non-governmental
organization The Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta).

Fakta chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan was of the opinion that
the pedicab problem would not go away as Jakarta residents still
needed becak.

"Sutiyoso allowed them to resume operating because of the
economic crisis. Well, the crisis is still going on," Tigor said.

He said that based on Fakta's inquiries, of the hundreds of
pedicabs that had been seized dozens had been sold in the
Karawaci area, Tangerang, where becak were still allowed to
operate.

He said spare parts from seized pedicabs, such as tires, were
also being sold by certain officers from the city Public Order
Office.

The office's chief, Firman Hutajulu, could not be reached for
comment on Wednesday.

The pedicab drivers dispersed peacefully after councillors
refused to meet them on Wednesday.

Council spokesman Rubingan said the councillors were reluctant
to meet them because they were accompanied by Fakta
representatives.

"We had earlier agreed that any meeting with the pedicab
drivers should be made without their being accompanied by the
representatives of non-governmental organizations," Rubingan
said.

Some 6,000 pedicabs currently operate all over the city, save
for the South Jakarta Mayoralty. (jun)