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)