Truck drivers protest traffic rules

BANDUNG: Around 1,500 truck drivers and container workers went on strike in the West Java capital of Bandung on Monday to protest against new regulations limiting the traffic of trucks carrying containers on the city's highway.

The protesters, in a convoy of 50 container trucks and hundreds of motorcycles, drove from the Gedebage container terminal to the West Java legislative building. Police allowed only 12 of the trucks to travel to the city's center.

Yana Keling, who led the strike, said the protesters rejected the traffic regulations issued by police in Bandung and Purwakarta banning container trucks from operating on Saturdays.

The ruling, dated on Nov. 21, 2001, allows the trucks to use the trans-Bandung highway at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., Monday to Friday.

On Sundays, traffic hours are limited to 9 a.m. to midday.

Under the traffic regulation implemented on March 9 by the Purwakarta police, container trucks are allowed to operate on the Bandung-Padalarang-Purwakarta-Cikopo highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day except for Saturdays.

Yana said the rulings had hampered export and import activities. He demanded a review of the regulations.

Local legislator Rizal Fadillah said the provincial legislative council could not accept the protesters' demand for revocation of the rulings as it had received complaints from residents about the damage of streets and traffic jams caused by big trucks. --JP