Indonesia
Violent protests against Uber in Indonesia
Once again, the US car service mediator Uber makes for negative headlines. In Indonesia, Taxi and rickshaw drivers demonstrated violently against the Service. The result: traffic chaos in Jakarta.
In the centre of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, there were clashes between the demonstrators and drivers of the travel service intermediary Uber, as örliche media reported. Taxi drivers would not have attacked colleagues who were involved in the actions. Important streets of the metropolis were blockeirt, tires were set on fire. The taxi drivers gathered with their cars and rickshaws in front of the Parliament to demand the “stop illegal Taxis”. The protests resulted in the roughly ten million inhabitants of the city to huge traffic jams.
Some of the demonstrators threw stones, tires were set on fire
Legal Grey Zone
As in many countries, for months, considerable resentment among taxi drivers, prevails in Indonesia about the competition from Uber and similar App-based services that offer rides to mostly lower prices than ordinary Taxis. Uber and other services move in Indonesia so far in a legal grey area. The government, as discussed with them should be handled.
“I want you to close Uber, GrabCar, Go-Jek, because you are ruining us,” said the 58-year-old taxi driver Dudin Suhendri, took part in the protests in Jakarta. His daily income had decreased due to increased competition from the equivalent of 20 Euro to a third of its. The taxi driver in front throw the competitors, not to pay taxes, and work without official approval.
No more: On the major streets of the metropolis, the traffic came to a Standstill
Ministries at odds over ban
“Why are thousands of people who pay no taxes should have no license and no controls of their cars, on the streets, plying, while we must meet these obligations”, asked the employees of the taxi company Blue Bird, Yohannis Rorimpandey. While the Ministry of transport is in favour of a ban on Uber, are rejected by the communications Ministry to ban the App.
cr/kle (dpa, afp)