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)