Jakarta – About 200 drivers of three-wheeled public transportation locally known as bemo, staged a rally in front of City Hall, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, demanding the administration cancel a plan to eliminate the transportation next month. "We think it is unfair to eliminate us just because our vehicles old," said Juara Sembiring, one of the drivers.

Juara said bemo had existed in the city for 40 years, dating back to when Sukarno served as the country's president. Currently, there are 800 to 1,000 bemos in five municipalities. The drivers claimed the administration did not involve them during the discussion to eliminate them from the city.

Deputy chief of Gambir Police subprecinct Adj. Comr. Handayani said about 85 personnel had been deployed to oversee the protest.