Rally staged against govt 'becak' ban

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)