Hundreds of taxi drivers staged another protest at the Bali administration and the provincial council on Thursday, demanding the revocation of of 250 additional licenses given to the Bali Taksi fleet.
The protesters, united under the Bali Tourism Service Association (PJWB), rallied on their taxis from Sunset Road in Kuta to the provincial council office in Renon in Denpasar, as hundreds of police officers safeguarded the demonstration area.
The drivers of local taxi companies were disappointed by the provincial administration's decision to issue 250 additional operating licenses to Bali Taksi, saying it has disadvantaged them.
Bali Taksi fleet is operated by PT Praja Bali Transportasi under its holding company Blue Bird Group.
Previously, the provincial administration and legislative councilors established a fact-finding team to review the province's need for more taxis and to settle the conflicts between local taxi companies and Bali Taksi. The team decided that Bali Taksi could legally operate.
Holding banners reading "Blue Bird = Killing Balinese People", the protesters denounced councilors and the provincial administration for neglecting their demands.
"The decision of the team to allow Bali Taksi extra licences has neglected our rights. We will not stop protesting until the administration fulfills our demands," PJWB spokesman Gusti Ngurah Nyoman Oka said as the group protested in front of the council office.
"The issuance of the licenses has threatened the welfare of local drivers," he said
The administration initially issued licenses for the operation of a 500-strong taxi fleet to PT Praja Bali Transportasi, but later it issued another license to allow the company 250 more.
The protesters accused the company of have bribing the administration to secure the license.
"We have demanded earlier that the operation of the 250 additional cars should be stopped, but why they are still operating until now," they said.
Drivers of Bali Taksi have sought for protection from the police since they faced violence by drivers from other driver groups united by PJWB.
The drivers said they were violently swiped while driving and that their passengers were forced out of their cabs.
Bali Taksi's management was also concerned following a warning letter from the transportation bureau, dated Feb. 1, which said PT Praja Bali Transportasi operated taxis in defiance of a ministerial decree on public transportation.
The letter said the Bali Taksi cars displayed the logo and company name of Blue Bird, while Blue Bird was not the official registered company name and logo for the license holder, which in this case is PT Praja Bali Transportasi.
Made Arjaya, head of the council's commission overseeing transportation issues said that the commission would issue a recommendation to the provincial administration.
"We will recommend the administration annul the license for the 250 fleet, and to oblige taxi operators to ask permits from PJWB before operating a new fleet," he said.
