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)