YLKI, LBH pick holes in traffic sticker plan

YLKI, LBH pick holes in traffic sticker plan

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration's decision to replace
the three-in-one regulation with a traffic sticker system came
under fire yesterday.

The Indonesian Consumers Association (YLKI) and the Jakarta
Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) said the city administration
had not listened to people's objections.

YLKI chairwoman Tini Hadad said the general public had
rejected the idea but the administration had still insisted on
implementing it.

"We have never been invited to discuss the project even though
officials know only too well that the decision has a great impact
on common people," she said.

She added that she doubted the new system would be effective
in solving the chronic traffic congestion in the heart of the
capital.

Besides, she pointed out, Presidential Decree No. 50 of 1998,
which endorses the traffic sticker system, contradicts Law No.
13/1980 which prohibits the imposition of levies on the use of
non-toll roads.

"The system is also discriminative because the restricted
zones are only open for people who are able to buy the stickers
to take the roads supposed to be open to the public because they
were built with taxpayers' money," she said.

The sticker plan requires people wanting to travel along Jl.
M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to buy stickers for Rp 5,000 (40 U.S.
cents) for a one-day entry and Rp 80,000 for a month.

The system, which will be tested from August to November, will
replace the three-in-one traffic regulation introduced in 1992 to
deal with chronic traffic congestion. The latter system requires
private vehicles to carry at least three people when entering the
restricted areas.

The three-in-one system is considered to have been largely
ineffective in easing traffic congestion.

Motorists will have to display valid stickers on their
windshields if they wish to enter the restricted zone.

Both LBH Jakarta and YLKI said they were ready to sue the
administration over the controversial project if the people gave
them the mandate.

The director of the LBH Jakarta, Apong Herlina, said the
institute was ready to sue the President, who enacted the decree,
and the city administration.

Tini said that her foundation would study the legality of the
project to decide whether to prepare a law suit.

Apong said the legal aid institute was also willing to help
people who wished to file a petition with the Supreme Court for a
judicial review to determine the legality of the project.

She contended that the sticker policy had been made without
involving the House of Representatives as the law requires for
any plan to impose levies and taxes.

"What is happening now is that people are required to follow a
rule that was made without them being asked if they agree or
disagree," she said. "The public should have been involved in the
decision-making process."

Apong questioned why the Supreme Court did not advise the
President that the policy was procedurally incorrect. (ind)