Sutiyoso upholds ban on pedicabs

Sutiyoso upholds ban on pedicabs

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday he would take
every effort to prevent becak (pedicab) drivers from operating in
the capital during his term of office.

He said the drivers, along with the rest of the poor, were
free to channel their votes to any party, but they had to know
that regulations could only be revoked in accordance with proper
procedures.

City Ordinance No. 11/1988 bans the operation of pedicabs in
Jakarta and designates the capital as a pedicab-free area.

Sutiyoso made the remarks following an announcement by the
non-governmental organization, the Urban Poor Consortium, to
coordinate poor people, including pedicab drivers, to vote for
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

In exchange for the votes, the party was asked to give a
written guarantee allowing pedicab divers to operate freely in
Jakarta, if it wins the elections.

City councilor Agus Waluyo of Commission E for social welfare
said it was easy for organizations to coordinate the poor to vote
for particular parties, but it was not an easy matter to revoke
an ordinance.

"The revocation of any ordinance requires the support of at
least two-thirds of city council members," Agus said.

He added that another procedure would require the
establishment of a team to study the ordinance in question.

"City ordinances are not jokes. They are made after thorough
studies and discussions." (ylt)