Sutiyoso attacks UPC on 'becak'
Sutiyoso attacks UPC on 'becak'
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso attacked a nongovernmental
organization on Monday for supporting becak (pedicab) drivers and
establishing operational zones for them, saying they had no right
to do so.
The Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) organized pedicab drivers into
groups following a Central Jakarta District Court verdict on July
31 ordering the city administration to allow the drivers
restricted operation in residential areas and markets.
"UPC should educate pedicab drivers about laws and
regulations, instead of organizing them and demanding their right
to operate in the city. Despite the court ruling, pedicabs are
still banned here according to City Bylaw No.11/1988 on Public
Order," Sutiyoso told The Jakarta Post at City Hall.
"Even President Abdurrahman Wahid has suggested that the
drivers find better jobs, while City Council has rejected the
proposal to amend the bylaw," he said
Most of the drivers are not even Jakarta residents, he added.
The governor also said he would continue with his program to
free the city from pedicabs.
"We will carry on with our public order operation, which
includes raiding pedicab drivers. City councillors are applying
constant pressure on me to solve the problem once and for all,"
he said.
"It would be better if the UPC provided training for the
drivers to change their professions," added Sutiyoso.
The city's Social Disturbances Control Center said UPC had
established 44 large and 157 small pedicab zones in the city.
"We have detected 11 large and 18 small zones in Central
Jakarta, three large and 19 small zones in East Jakarta, 12 large
and 73 small zones in North Jakarta, and 18 large and 47 small
zones in West Jakarta," the center's information division head,
Raya Siahaan, told reporters.
"UPC has also appointed personnel to coordinate drivers in
each zone," he said.
No zones have been detected in South Jakarta, he said.
City officials estimate that there are more than 6,000
pedicabs in the city. (nvn)