Thousands stranded as drivers continue strike

Thousands stranded as drivers continue strike

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of passengers between Tanah Abang and
Kebayoran Lama areas, and also Kebun Jeruk, were still stranded
yesterday as a strike of at least 2,000 drivers entered its
second day.

Meanwhile the City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) had to
solve yesterday not only the problem in Kebayoran Lama, but also
striking drivers in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, and Cilincing,
North Jakarta.

To replace buses which ply the Kebayoran Lama-Tanah Abang
route, 10 covered police trucks, a few army vehicles and state-
owned PPD buses were deployed since Tuesday afternoon to help
forlorn passengers. Other passengers had to pay fares set by ojek
motorcycle taxis, who reaped huge earnings.

Hundreds of motorcycles for hire -- including people who do
not work as ojek drivers -- lined streets heading towards
Palmerah and Kebayoran Lama, and towards Petamburan and Tanah
Abang until late afternoon.

One of the new ojek drivers, Abdul Salam of Petamburan, West
Jakarta, who owns a small store, said he had collected at least
Rp 30,000 (US$12) before 4 p.m. yesterday.

Another new driver, Achmad, a high school student, said he got
into an argument with a passenger because he charged Rp 15,000
from Palmerah to Kalideres, West Jakarta.

"But then he agreed because there were no other means of
public transport," Ahmad said.

The strike was by drivers of the M09 bus route between Tanah
Abang and Kebayoran Lama, and drivers of buses plying two other
similar routes -- towards Kebon Jeruk and Meruya Ilir, South
Jakarta.

Drivers said Tuesday new buses ran by the Koperasi Wahana
Kalpika (KWK) cooperative had violated their permits by plying
Kebayoran Lama roads. They decided to strike because authorities
had not heeded their complaints.

The KWK vans had permits to drive along a route between Grogol
River and Kreo in South Jakarta, without passing through
Kebayoran Lama.

Head of city bus affairs Robby Rewah at DLLAJ said at noon
they had reached an agreement with cooperatives running the
different routes, but the strike continued.

"The KWK management has been told to keep their buses on their
permitted routes," Robby said.

Around 300 drivers of the Kebayoran Lama route marched to the
House of Representatives in the morning and met with Commission V
in charge of transportation.

Violence

They agreed to end the strike because the commission promised
to channel their grievances. But around 3 p.m. violence broke out
when at least one van had its windows smashed. Police also
arrested two drivers on charges of beating a fellow driver,
Herman Effendi, 46.

The two detained drivers who were brought to Palmerah Police
precinct were Harsono and Suharno, both aged 37.

Herman was driving under the Slipi overpass around 3:00 p.m.
yesterday when several drivers pursued him.

The drivers attacked Herman and smashed the Kijang van's
windows.

Herman suffered severe injuries to the head and was taken to a
nearby hospital.

City Traffic Police Chief Col. Ansyar Roem regretted the
strike.

"They've fell victim to their own actions because they've lost
income," Ansyar said.

He said police were concerned about the possibility of another
disturbance if commuters, being exhausted after a long day's
work, became angry at finding no public transportation to bring
them home.

"Police will continue deploying additional vehicles to take
people to their destinations until drivers end their strikes,"
Ansyar said. The temporary vehicles were free, he said.

DLLAJ also met with six drivers who represented drivers of the
Kampung Melayu-Pulogadung route.

Drivers of route M21 had begun striking Monday when they found
out that their 125 buses had been increased to 133 buses, and
would eventually be increased to 140.

In the meeting Robby explained that the limit for the number
of buses along the 6-kilometer route, according to a 1996 city
rule, was 140. He said DLLAJ had permitted eight more buses based
on a survey, which was preceded by requests from bus company
owners.

But in response to complaints, DLLAJ would review the survey,
he said.

The representatives agreed to end the strike.

"But please give us a written statement to show our fellow
drivers," Gultom, a driver, said.

When asked why they did not complain to the organization of
public transport companies, Organda, drivers said they felt the
organization never represented their interests.

Officials said another strike in North Jakarta by drivers
plying the Tanjung Priok-Cilincing route had been settled by the
local DLLAJ office. It was also reportedly sparked by buses being
added to the route.

City Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga said that DLLAJ should be
more careful in issuing route permits.

"The agency must take sides with people's interests," Ritonga
said. "They shouldn't add buses to routes so easily."

Requests for more buses on a route, or permits to operate a
new route, are forwarded by bus companies to DLLAJ, he said. A
survey is then conducted before a decision is reached.

Drivers should be involved in discussions on new buses,
Ritonga said. (anr/cst/10)