Surabaya intercity bus drivers go on strike
Surabaya intercity bus drivers go on strike
SURABAYA (JP): Haunted by the vandalism of angry mobs who have
set fire to several buses, hundreds of intercity bus drivers at
the Purabaya terminal went on strike here on Monday demanding
that police guarantee their security.
The strike has seemingly crippled bus transportation to and
from Surabaya.
Reports state that almost all large intercity bus terminals in
East Java were simultaneously hit by strike actions.
Only several buses at the Purabaya bus terminal were willing
to operate, after local police posted two officers on each bus.
The drivers said that at least seven buses had been
incinerated by street mobs or local residents, following
accidents occurring since the Idul Fitri holiday on Dec. 27.
They cited incidents in Probolinggo, Sidoardjo and other towns
involving Akas, Sumber Kentjana, Restu, Tentrem, Salimas and
Moedah buses.
People usually blame bus drivers if collisions or other
traffic accidents involving intercity buses occur. They contend
that everybody witnesses intercity buses speeding on the roads
and ignoring other motorists, even pedestrians.
The Purabaya intercity bus terminal in Bungurasih, Surabaya,
claimed to be biggest in Southeast Asia, serves as an interchange
for at least 1,500 buses, transporting more than 40,000
passengers every day.
The drivers' strike has left thousands of passengers, destined
for other cities in Central Java and East Java, stranded at the
terminal.
Hundreds of them have decided to hitchhike, stopping empty
trucks at the gate of the Waru toll road.
The intercity bus drivers' strike was followed by similar
action from drivers of local transport vehicles in Surabaya, as
an expression of solidarity.
Chairman of East Java's chapter of the Association of Land
Transportation Owners (Organda) Mustafa said after negotiations
with police, that Organda members would not operate their buses
until they received a security guarantee.
"We don't want to risk our drivers and buses. We don't want to
speculate on such a matter," he said.
Separately some drivers said the street brutality was still
terrifying them.
"Let's see tomorrow. If there is a security guarantee, we will
go," Hartono, driver of an Akas bus said, adding that he had to
sacrifice his Rp 30,000 daily income because of the strike.
Meanwhile, approximately 600 police officers, including around
400 Mobile Brigade troops, were deployed to avert possible chaos
during the drivers' strike.
"I have been ordered (by the East Java Police chief) to
contact all police precincts in the province to prevent any
incidents during and after the strike," chief of the East Java
Police operational and control center Sr. Comr. SW Sabur was
quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.
He said that the Akas bus company had asked him to make two
officers available to escort each vehicle during operation in the
future.
Many drivers left their buses at the garage in Waru, east of
Surabaya.
"Marine and Army personnel have expressed their willingness to
assist police officers posted at the Purabaya bus terminal in the
event of an emergency," said Sabur. (nur/sur)