TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Conventional taxi drivers stage rally in Makassar
Change Size
Sweeping: Drivers of motor-powered tricycles, or "becak motor", force their colleagues to eject their passengers and join rallies against online-based taxis across main roads in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sept.28. (JP/Andi Hajramurni)
H
undreds of passengers have been abandoned on the main streets of Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Thursday, after they were forced to disembark from the modes of transportation they were traveling on.
The incident occurred as drivers of conventional taxis and public minivans, or angkot, staged a rally against app-based taxis.
As of noon, drivers of motor-powered tricycles, locally known as becak motor, conventional taxis and public minivans have continued to occupy main roads, such as Jl. Andi Pangerang Pettarani, Jl. Sultan Alauddin, Jl. Kumala, Jl. Veteran Selatan, and Jl. Sam Ratulangi.
They stopped vehicles and forced the drivers to eject their passengers. They also searched for online-based taxis and ojek (motorcyle taxis).
Protesters stopped vehicles suspected to be app-based taxis and inspected both drivers and passengers. Drivers of vehicles found to be online-based taxis were forced to eject their passengers.
“I don’t know how I can get back home. There is no public transportation here. I and several other women were forced to disembark from pete-pete [a public minivan] on my way to my house in Sudiang,” said Sulaeha, 62. The incident took place on Jl. Andi Pangerang Pettarani, on Thursday morning.
A married couple, Daeng Beta, 65, and Daeng Te’ne, 63, from Jeneponto, South Sulawesi, who were traveling on a public minivan to visit their relative, were forced to disembark on Jl. Pettarani, despite carrying two sacks of rice, a chicken and several bags of goods.
Conventional taxis have repeatedly protested ride-hailing apps they accuse of affecting their revenues. (ebf)
