Thousands stranded

Thousands stranded

SEMARANG, Central Java: Thousands of passengers were left
stranded here yesterday as drivers in the city bus terminal went
on strike to protest the soaring prices of auto parts.

Authorities mobilized dozens of trucks and buses from
government offices bound for Surakarta, Purwokerto, Yogyakarta,
Magelang and Purworejo. The vehicles were escorted by armed
soldiers.

A bus company owner, who requested anonymity, told The Jakarta
Post that he stopped operating his fleet because of the high
operational costs wrought by the prices of parts which had soared
by more than 300 percent.

"Now, many of my buses are not roadworthy. Their tires, brakes
and lube oil need replacing, but the spare parts are too
expensive for us to afford," he said. (har)