Public transportation in West Papua – Jubi
Sorong, Jubi – Hundreds of public transportation (angkot) drivers held a protest in front of drivers held a protest in front of Dominique Edward Osok Airport, Sorong following the sudden increase of fuel price few days ago.
A driver who declined mentioning his name said the fluctuation of fuel price put drivers in dilemma. “If it continues to be happened the drivers would stop working and their families needs could be threaten while the government’s goal is people’s welfare but where is the evidence? How could get a prosperous life while fulfilling our needs is so difficult if it kept continue,” he said.
During the protest, Sorong Municipal Land Transportation Head Zikri Helmi met the drivers and asked them to be patient because today is the office day off.
“The mayor is not coming to the office, other employees as well because today is holiday. So I asked you to return on the day after tomorrow, thus we can discuss about it later,” he said to all public transportation drivers on Saturday (28/3/2015).
He also asked four driver representatives to come to Sorong Municipal Transportation Office to discuss a solution before meet with the Sorong Mayor.
“On Monday (30/3/2015), Land Transportation Head Zikri Helmi revealed along the meeting the drivers could not understand about the instructions and directives given causing it lasted long but shortly the drivers went away,” he said.
Meanwhile Sorong Municipal Legislative Council’s Commission B Chairman Selestinus Paundanan said the parliament definitely support the government police in fuel price. But this support doesn’t mean the parliament was not taking side on people, but it’s a policy. However, on the other side he thought the drivers should not necessarily do a protest.
“When the price goes down, they were not necessarily low their tariff. It means they are actually not losing income because when it rises they will increase the tariff as well. But the public is the most disadvantaged due to this policy,” he said. (Nees Makuba/rom)
