Taxi protest mires Jakarta traffic

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Thousands of taxi drivers caused traffic chaos in the Indonesian capital Tuesday in a protest against what they said is unfair competition from ride-hailing apps such as Uber.

TV footage showed long lines of taxis and three-wheel minicabs blocking a central expressway, with men setting tires afire and jumping on the vehicles of drivers who refused to join in the protest. Green-jacketed drivers for Go-Jek, an app used to hail motorcycle taxis, retaliated by hurling rocks and other objects.

It was the second major protest by taxi drivers in Jakarta this month and was large enough to halt the motorcades of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Drivers say competition from ride-hailing apps, which don't face the same costs and rules as regular taxis, has severely reduced their income. Many go to Jakarta from other parts of Indonesia and work as taxi drivers to support their families.

Driver Jeffrey Sumampouw said his earnings have dropped more than 60 percent since Uber and similar companies began gaining popularity in Jakarta about a year ago.

"The government must defend us from illegal drivers who have stolen our income," he said. "We almost cry every day because it's difficult to get passengers."

Uber has made a big push into Asia, intensifying competition in a region where there already was a slew of ride-hailing apps such as Malaysia's Grab, which operates in several Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia.

On Monday, Grab said it had formed a strategic partnership with Lippo, which is one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates, and claimed its "GrabCar" business in Indonesia grew 30 percent last month. Go-Jek, an Indonesian startup that hails motorcycle taxis and provides services such as document and food delivery, also has exploded in popularity in the past year.

The demonstrations Tuesday elicited little sympathy from commuters in the city of 10 million people.

"This protest is so terrible. They really are rude and overbearing. I was very hurt," said Dewi Gayatri, who missed her flight for a business trip to Makassar in eastern Indonesia.

"I still like Uber, and hope the government protects Uber, because it's so easy to order and cheaper," she said.

Kalla said it was the first time his motorcade had been stuck in traffic since he was elected nearly two years ago.

Kalla, who was on his way to pay respects to 13 army officers killed in a helicopter crash in Sulawesi over the weekend, said "technology could not be resisted."

Source: Taxi protest mires Jakarta traffic