Terrified public transportation drivers go back to work

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Traffic here in the North Sumatra capital has returned to normal as thousands of drivers ended their strike on Tuesday after the bus companies threatened to fire them if they continued their three-day protest against the fuel and utility price hikes.

The striking drivers, supported by students, were attacked by a group of thugs, believed to have been hired by the bus operators, hours before they started their planned strike on Monday. Two of the drivers were seriously injured and are now being treated in the intensive care unit of a local hospital.

Police in Medan said on Tuesday they were questioning at least 11 witnesses over the incident and were searching for the attackers, who fled in two city transportation vehicles.

"We want the drivers to stop their strike. We are investigating the case and hopefully we will arrest the perpetrators soon," Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Badrodin Haiti told The Jakarta Post.

The drivers claimed they were forced to go back to work on Tuesday out of fear they would be fired by their employers.

Victor Nainggolan, chairman of the public transportation drivers and owners' association (Kesper-AU), which organized the strike, said he had ordered his members back to work on Tuesday.

"We have gone back to work due to coercion. If we continue with our strike, our licenses could be revoked," he told the Post.

But O.K. Chaidir, who chairs the Medan branch of the land transportation owners' organization (Organda), denied the bus operators had threatened the drivers with dismissal should they continue their strike.

He urged the drivers to halt their protest, saying it would disadvantage the public at large.

"The bus operators have never threatened the drivers. But they should never have gone on strike as they have an obligation to serve the public," Chaidir said.

Victor said the representatives of the striking drivers would meet North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin on Thursday as the government had yet to heed their demands to reverse the rises in fuel and utility prices.

The drivers also demanded that the authorities take action to ensure cheaper spare parts and eliminate rampant extortion.

Their move was supported by students and activists from various non-governmental organizations based in Medan.

"If the planned meeting with the governor produces no joy, we will go on strike again as part of a bigger protest. We are working together with the student organizations and others who support our struggle," Victor said.