Rally staged against govt 'becak' ban

JAKARTA (JP): About 150 people staged a protest outside the City Hall yesterday to demand that the governor allow pedicabs to operate in the capital.

Pedicab drivers, activists and residents demanded that the city administration review the 1988 ordinance forbidding the three-wheeled vehicles from plying the capital's streets.

Waving large banners and posters, the demonstrators marched for about 500 meters along Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan to the City Hall carrying a white becak and a puppet.

When the protesters discovered that neither Governor Sutiyoso nor any of his deputies were available to meet them they moved on to the City Council premises to file their demand.

The protest coordinator, Wardah Hafidz from the Urban Poor Consortium, urged the council to allow pedicabs to operate on the city's narrow streets and alleys by revising City Ordinance No.1/1998 which declares Jakarta a pedicab-free area.

"Becak (pedicabs) are the best type of vehicle in which to travel short distances and they do not cause any pollution," she said.

"Pedicab drivers cannot earn enough money in their hometowns because of the economic crisis, so why not give them a chance to seek a better living here, like Governor Sutiyoso suggested. Most of them can earn around Rp 10,000 a day here," she added.

Consumers

Endang Puji Rahayu, who claimed to represent consumers, said that becak were a logical choice during the economic crisis.

"Fuel prices have increased, forcing us to spend more on transportation. Pedicabs are a good choice because they are cheaper," she said.

A merchant, Hendi Rohaendi, said that pedicabs would be helpful for traders because public vans often refused to carry their merchandise.

Councilor Soeparmo, who heads Commission E for social welfare affairs, said when meeting the protesters that the administration should accommodate all the people's wishes into its policies.

Soeparmo also promised to pass on the demonstrators' message to Governor Sutiyoso.

Sutiyoso announced last month that he would allow pedicabs back onto the streets after a 10 year absence to help unemployed people make money during the economic crisis.

However, seven days later he revoked the decision on the pretext that becak drivers had strayed into forbidden areas and were operating on major thoroughfares, not only in alleys and small streets as agreed.

The governor then set aside Rp 50 million to pay for the transportation of the man-powered vehicles back to where they came from.

Yesterday's demonstration was the second held by pedicab drivers this week.

The protesters failed to meet the governor or any of his deputies and were threatened by security officers who barred their way.

"If you insist on entering the premises you will face my troops," said security officer Y.R. Nainggolan.

The demonstrators then agreed to send 10 representatives in to talk to a deputy governor, as promised by Toha Reno, an official in the city public order office.

However, after entering the complex the representatives were told that no deputy governors were available to meet them. After a two hour stand-off, the protesters walked on to the City Council building, about one kilometer away.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi told reporters that the administration would only tolerate pedicabs plying streets at the city's borders.

"We will stick to the ordinance. If in August we still find becak plying the city's streets we will impound them," he said.

The administration vowed on Tuesday that the city would be free of pedicabs by the end of July. (ind)