(Qeerroo News, Finfinnee, 16 May 2011) Taxi and mini-bus drivers in Finfinnee have begun an unofficial strike to protest against a new law aimed at trying to reduce traffic accidents.

Oromia’s capital Finfinnee is hit with a strike by taxi drivers today accrording to Qeerroo news. Drivers can now lose their licenses if they commit a certain number of offenses — and fines have increased six-fold.

Most taxi drivers have stayed home this morning, causing a massive transportation disruption in the city. Drivers also have complained that the new rules are too punitive.

Thousands of people in the capital, Finfinnee, walked to work because of the strike.The taxi drivers are protesting the unbearable cost of living and a recent regulation that limits them to certain areas of the city.

Finfinnee’s transport bureau says more than five hundred people have been killed in traffic accidents over the past two years.

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