Public minivan drivers on strike in Bogor

Public minivan drivers on strike in Bogor

BOGOR: Drivers of public minivans in Bogor, West Java, went on
strike on Tuesday, demanding that the Bogor city council legalize
the increase in bus fares from Rp 900 to Rp 1,000.

But city council chairman M. Sahid rejected passing the
increase into law.

The drivers increased their fares after the government raised
the gasoline price from Rp 1,600 to Rp 1,750 per liter.

"The council has formally refused the plan to increase the bus
fare. It should be maintained at Rp 900," he told representatives
of the drivers who met with a number of councillors on Tuesday.

Chairman of the Bogor chapter of the land transportation
owners Association (Organda Bogor), M. Isak, said that his
association had only proposed to raise the bus fare from Rp 900
to Rp 1,135 and not Rp 1,300 as had been reported before.

The new fare was proposed two months ago when the government
increased gasoline prices from Rp 1,550 to Rp 1,600 per liter.
But after the council gave no response, it just canceled the
plan.

Striking drivers included public minivan operators serving
Pasar Anyar-Cimanggu, Pasar Anyar-Pondok Rumput, Jambu-Ramayana
and Warung Jambu-Merdeka. --JP