[sustran] Jakarta planning to dump becaks again?

[John Ernst]

Despite activities aimed at increasing the acceptance of non-motorized
tricycle pedicabs (becak) in Jakarta, events over the weekend are pointing
to a repeat of Suharto's famous dumping of becaks into the bay.

According to the English-language Jakarta Post, President Abdurrahman Wahid
addressed a protest organized by the Urban Poor Coalition on Saturday (20
November) which included hundreds of becak drivers.  He defended the 1988
ban on becaks "on humanitarian grounds" saying the drivers work "like
horses" and that they need to be found other jobs ("President Abdurrahman
defends ban on 'becak'', Jakarta Post, 21 November 1999, p.1).  

This prompted Jakarta Mayor Sutiyoso to order authorities to "begin
cleansing the city's streets of becak" ("Sutiyoso firm on 'becak' raids",
Jakarta Post, 22 November 1999, p3).   

Becak began to increase in Jakarta earlier this year, when the governor
stated he would allow operation again because of the economic crisis.  Now
Sutiyoso plans to move the drivers back to their villages, offer them
transmigration (an Indonesian program to move people from Java to other
islands) or train them for other jobs.

The Jakarta Post articles can be viewed online at
<www.thejakartapost.com:8890>

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John Ernst     Urban Transport Ecologist

SUSTRAN - Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific
www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2853/

ITDP - The Institute for Transport and Development Policy    www.itdp.org

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