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