President urged to temporarily stop raids on pedicabs

JAKARTA (JP): Some 100 becak pedicab drivers staged a protest in front of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, demanding President Abdurrahman Wahid order the city administration to temporarily halt raids on pedicabs while awaiting the verdict of a lawsuit filed by the drivers earlier this month.

The drivers arrived at the scene at around 9 a.m, escorted by activists from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC). Some drivers aired speeches, condemning the city administration's policy of prohibiting pedicabs from operating in the city.

Edi Saidi, the coordinator of the protest, accused Governor Sutiyoso of flouting the law by continuing with his policy of establishing a pedicab-free Jakarta.

"The governor is arrogant. The drivers' lawsuit against him is being examined by the Central Jakarta District Court. So, lawfully he is prohibited from conducting raids and seizing pedicabs," Edi, also a UPC activist, said.

He was referring to a court tradition stating that during legal proceedings, goods belonging to any of the parties cannot be executed or seized until a judge has announced a verdict.

The pedicab drivers filed a class action at the district court on Feb. 17, demanding the court stop the governor's policy which prohibits pedicab drivers from operating in the city.

The lawsuit was filed by 130 pedicab drivers, who represent some 6,000 pedicab drivers in the lawsuit.

The court is scheduled to hold the initial hearing of the case in the near future.

Edi said the governor had violated a universally accepted legal principle.

"The city administration seized seven pedicabs in Semper, North Jakarta, and four pedicabs in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, a few days ago," he said.

The activist demanded the President halt the administration's move to cleanse the city of pedicabs.

"If the President is not ready to deal with our demand, we will stay here until he does," he said.

Dozens of police personnel, equipped with only rattan sticks, safeguarded the protest. The protest was carried out in a peaceful manner.

Pedicab driver Suyadi said he had witnessed abuses in the policy as carried out by the administration.

"I saw a city administration staffer selling two pedicab wheels to a vegetable vendor from a pedicab previously seized in a raid," Suyadi, a resident of Cengkareng, West Jakarta, said.

Wardah Hafidz, the UPC Coordinator, and two other pedicab drivers tried to meet the President, but a palace staffer prevented them from doing so.

"The President can't hold a dialog with the pedicab drivers, since his schedule is very tight," the staffer said as quoted by Wardah. Until 8 p.m., the pedicab drivers were still in front of the palace.

"We will stay here until the President receives us," Wardah told The Jakarta Post. (asa)