Protest mars better cargo screening at Jakarta

INDONESIA’s competition authority is investigating new cargo security rules following a mass strike and protest at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The airport, often called Cengkareng Airport within Indonesia, saw workers walk out in protest at new government regulations that impose a 14-fold increase on the cargo security charge and cut the number of companies allowed to inspect cargo from eight down to three.

Now the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) is investigating the new rules amid allegations that the three companies hired to operate the new scanning system were appointed without a bidding process.

Airport official Adi Kanrio denied the allegations. “The three companies submitted proposals in 2010 and have gone through an audit process where we assessed their legal documents, technical capabilities and adequacy of their equipment,” he said.

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