Unbowed Sutiyoso says 'becak' must go

JAKARTA (JP): Undaunted by strong resistance from becak (pedicab) drivers, Governor Sutiyoso said on Wednesday that the city administration would soldier on with its plan to clear the three-wheeled vehicles off the capital's streets.

"We'll continue the operation to net the pedicabs, as mandated in the 1988 Bylaw No. 11 on Public Order," Sutiyoso said in Ciracas, East Jakarta, on the sidelines of a ceremony commemorating the City Fire Department's 81st anniversary.

He condemned drivers who went on the rampage following a clash with city public order officials on Tuesday evening. At least six vehicles were damaged and four city officials sustained injuries.

"I'm concerned that my residents could do such a thing to city officials," he said.

Residents reportedly ran amok in areas of West and North Jakarta when city officials began the operation to impound pedicabs.

Angry pedicab drivers burned a garbage truck from the City Sanitation Agency, an Isuzu Panther pickup of the City Public Order Office and a fire truck on Jl. Mangga Besar, West Jakarta. Four officials were reportedly injured in the incident.

Another clash occurred on Jl. Pademangan III, North Jakarta, when a mob burned the Pademangan district office. They continued on to Jl. Gunung Sahari, where they burned a public minivan and smashed the windows of two Metro Mini public minibuses.

The governor admitted it was difficult to tell if the pedicab drivers were responsible for all of the destruction.

"I've been told that not all of the rioters were becak drivers, some of them were members of the community. There were provocateurs in the incidents," he said, urging city residents not to be easily provoked by rumors.

Sutiyoso said later at City Hall that he was in a difficult position concerning the handling of the pedicabs.

"When I was going easy on the drivers, city councilors asked me to uphold the city bylaw. On the other hand, residents have violently protested the city administration for conducting the operation."

Interviewed separately, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said the residents' violent actions against city officials were considered crimes.

"I urge the city police to thoroughly investigate these incidents." He said the operation would continue despite the drivers' opposition.

City records show there are 1,967 pedicabs remaining in the capital, of which 318 are in Central Jakarta, another 418 in West Jakarta and the remaining 1,231 in North Jakarta. South and East Jakarta have been declared free of the vehicles. (nvn)