Old transportation: A number of three-wheeled motorized vehicles known as bemo are parked in front of Jakarta City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan. The drivers of the public transportation were protesting late last year over the city’s plan to ban the vehicle from operating in the city. JP/Nurhayati
Jan. 23, Online
Rosita, 50, is a bemo driver in Bendungan Hilir, Jakarta. Bemos (three-wheeled motorized vehicle) have been operating since the 1960s, but their days are numbered.
The Jakarta administration is proposing a city-wide ban on bemos, citing environmental concerns. Such a ban will push hundreds of bemo drivers like Rosita even deeper into poverty.
Rosita, who lives with his family in a slum near Petamburan railway, shares the story of his life as a bemo driver and his fears should bemos be forced into extinction. (By Moch N. Kurniawan and Inga Ting)
Your comments:
In this case, the government has to replace bemo with electric vehicles, as they are good for the environment. These vehicles should be given to the former bemo drivers for free, so no one will lose out.
Rachmat
Surabaya
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Wasn’t smoking banned in Jl. Jend. Sudirman? Certainly, no risk of that becoming extinct in a hurry!
Rachmat, who do you think is going to pay for the new electric vehicles you propose to give to bemo drivers for free?
If you say the government should, then I trust that you (unlike most Indonesians) must be a registered taxpayer and that you declare your full taxable income.
Jeoff
Jakarta
Unfortunately, progress happens. The bemo will go the way of the dokar (horse cart). Evolution is continuous. The bemo is a very smelly, polluting vehicle and the air over the capital city must be cleaned up for the sake of people’s health.
Beanbodle
Australia
The government has a lot of experience, dealing with such problems a million times. They know best what is to be done to serve the public, as they don’t want to harm citizens.
However, the government must not be like the donkey that falls into the same well many times without learning from his mistakes.
Mahan
Melbourne
When will the government start to give some real care and attention to improving their people’s quality of life instead of killing it, and stop all the political infighting?
Ratri
Stuttgart
