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)