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)