[sustran] Indonesia public transport strike over fuel price rise

[Paul Barter]

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20010618.@01&irec=0

The Jakarta Post 18 June 2001 
Strike likely to continue: Police 


JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police warned that a public transportation strike that
affected some parts of the city on Saturday would be repeated again on
Monday to protest the 30 percent increase of fuel prices.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Sunday that
information collected by police intelligence personnel indicated that a
strike would most likely affect some parts of the city. 

"We have received news from our intelligence units that Saturday's strike,
which involved hundreds of public bus and minivan drivers, will continue on
Monday," Anton told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. 

Nevertheless, Anton said the police had coordinated with the Indonesian
Military (TNI) and the city administration to take necessary measures should
the strike materialize. 

"Together, we will deploy over 100 trucks in bus terminals across the
capital to transport stranded passengers," Anton said. 

Anton warned that police would not hesitate to arrest anybody caught trying
to coerce public minivan or bus drivers to participate in the strike. 

The police arrested 12 people during Saturday's strike at Ciputat, South
Jakarta. They included workers, university students, laborers and a
commander of the City Forum (Forkot). 

"The police will not tolerate any sort of chaos in the capital," Anton said.


Currently, 21,000 police personnel are on high alert and deployed in the
capital's economic centers, around public facilities and in and around the
capital's gas stations. 

A wave of protests and strikes in several locations throughout the country
took place on Saturday and Sunday after the government announced the hike of
fuel prices, which became effective on Saturday. 

The price of premium leaded gasoline has risen to Rp 1,450 (13 U.S. cents)
per liter from Rp 1,150; automotive diesel oil to Rp 900 per liter from Rp
600; and kerosene to Rp 400 from Rp 350 per liter. 

According to National Police data, strikes by public transportation drivers
had affected at least 19 Indonesian cities as of Sunday, most of them
located in Java. 

Bandung, the capital of West Java, experienced the worst strike, which
followed violent labor protests at the end of last week. 

The Bandung administration bowed to the drivers' demand and approved a fare
increase for public transportation by between 25 percent and 30 percent. 

"I hope the drivers will start operating their vehicles because their demand
(for an increased fare) has been met. The students have to sit their final
examinations on Monday," West Java Governor R. Nuriana exclaimed on Sunday. 

The situation in Bandung returned to normal on Sunday. Shops and markets
resumed trading while there were still few public vehicles visible in the
streets. 

Drivers who had not begun working again admitted that they were afraid of
intimidation from fellow drivers and possible riots if they resumed
operations. 

"I'll see if many of my friends start serving passengers. I will too, but if
there's only a few of them I'd rather not operate my vehicle," a minivan
driver, Deden, said. 

On several routes, such as in Lembang and Ciwiduey, however, the public
transportation had ground to a complete halt. 

Still on Sunday, in Kebon Kelapa and Cicadas terminal, Bandung Police
arrested five members of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) who were
allegedly distributing pamphlets about a rally planned for Monday. 

Bandung police chief Sr. Comr. Timur Pradopo claimed the arrested PRD
members were provoking drivers to strike on Monday. 

In Jambi, the strike continued on Sunday with only several vehicles resuming
operations. 

Antara reported that many of the public minivan drivers just parked their
vehicles in several terminals. 

The striking public minivan drivers there also demanded a public
transportation fare increase. 

Jambi Governor Zulkifli Nurdin said that his administration would consider
the demands made by the public minivan drivers after thorough discussion
with other related agencies. (25/30/ylt/emf) 
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forwarded for the purposes of education and research.