Tangerang public minivan drivers protest route overlaps

Tangerang public minivan drivers protest route overlaps

TANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of angkot (public minivan) drivers
protested at Tangerang Regent Agus Djunara's office on Tuesday
over route overlaps.

The protest, held by drivers of D-06 minivans plying the
Jombang-Ciputat route and drivers of D-08 minivans plying the
Ciputat-BSD housing complex route, was also participated in by
minivan owners.

According to Slamet, a D-06 minivan driver, the two-month-old
problem was caused by D-08 minivan drivers who "stole routes of
D-06 minivans".

The overlap occurred after the Tangerang Land Transportation
Agency (DLLAJ) opened a new route for D-08 minivans.

"A decree issued by Regent Agus Djunara ordering both minivans
to return to their previous routes should be issued and put into
effect immediately," Slamet said.

D-08 drivers took over part of the D-06 route when a number of
the roads on their old route were in need of repair. D-06 minivan
drivers claim the damaged roads have been repaired.

The drivers, who stop at the Sudimara Railway Station for
passengers, frequently fight.

An owner of D-06 minivans, Saut P, said that while
negotiations on the matter were going on, his drivers had to
continue operating his minivans so that he could pay the interest
on bank loans taken out to purchase the minivans.

"Drivers are operating the (D-06) minivans but they are having
trouble on the routes... extortionists demand money from them on
the road and if drivers don't pay up, the extortionists don't
allow drivers to move on," Saut said.

Extortionists have been demanding Rp 2,000 (US 28 cents) daily
from D-06 minivan drivers for the past two months, thus casting
doubts on whether the fight for routes is real or whether it is
an opportunity for some to make money.

Meanwhile, several D-08 minivan drivers claim they have been
plying the routes currently being fought over for the past 3.5
years and suggest that drivers of both routes make peace and
continue to ply the same routes.

The protest at the Tangerang regent's office, watched by
dozens of soldiers and police officers, was witnessed by Kadili,
head of the local DLLAJ, Tangerang Police precinct chief Lt. Col.
Pudji Hartanto and Tangerang military district commander Lt. Col.
Meris Wiryadi.(41/ylt)