123 buildings, 70 vehicles damaged in Saturday's unrest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 123 buildings and 70 vehicles were
\ndamaged during mass looting and burning in the city on Saturday
\nfollowing bloody clashes between demonstrating students and
\nsecurity officers, according to data of the city administration.<\/p>\n
Data released by the city social disturbance office reveals
\nthat damaged buildings registered up to Monday include two
\nmarkets, two shopping malls, 84 shops, eight hotels and
\nrestaurants, 15 banks, six government buildings, four offices.<\/p>\n
The data, which does not mention the locations of the
\nbuildings, also discloses that 97 vehicles, including 26 private
\ncars, were damaged as were many public facilities, including
\ntraffic signs, traffic lights, road medians, ornamental trees,
\npavement, police posts and flower pots.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso told reporters on Monday that his
\nadministration would prioritize renovation efforts on public
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\"We'll pay more attention to public facilities as they are
\nvery important for people. Even though our financial sources are
\nnow so limited, we'll try our best to get the funds,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, the governor refused to disclose the financial losses
\nincurred from the violent and irresponsible actions, saying that
\nthey were still being calculated.<\/p>\n
According to the data, the death toll was 14, while 434 others
\nwere lightly or seriously injured.<\/p>\n
Separately, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said
\nthat losses in his mayoralty were estimated at about Rp 2 billion
\n(US$250,000).<\/p>\n
\"The amount does not include the losses bore by the private
\nsector,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the mayoralty was the most severely hit by
\narson and looting.<\/p>\n
Study<\/p>\n
In an unrelated development, Sutiyoso and Jakarta Military
\nCommander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman urged university students to
\nconcentrate on their studies instead of staging demonstrations as
\nthe latter created economic and social losses.<\/p>\n
The two officials made the calls in a meeting with some 100
\nstate and private universities' assistant rectors for
\nadministrative and student affairs at City Hall on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that both students and university managements
\nunderstand that all of us feel the effects of the demonstrations'
\nbad excesses. For example, foodstuffs supply are hampered, while
\nroads are blocked etc.<\/p>\n
\"If this kind of situation goes on for quite a long time,
\nJakartans will lack foodstuffs,\" Sutiyoso was quoted by Goeritno
\nSugengrahardjo, an assistant rector at Kampus Ungu's School of
\nEconomics in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The meeting was closed to reporters.<\/p>\n
Commenting on shots fired by security personnel, Djadja said
\nhe hoped people would understand that incidents occurred under a
\nchaotic situation in which students were pelting officers with
\nstones. People were also hurling Molotov cocktails and carrying
\nsharp weapons, he said<\/p>\n
\"We hope that people understand (about the shootings).
\nSecurity officials were under stress as they hadn't had a rest
\nfor days and they were mocked and pelted with stones and other
\nmaterials,\" Djadja was quoted by Goeritno as saying.<\/p>\n
However, Goeritno said it was impossible for university
\nofficials to prevent students from staging protest because it was
\ntheir right as citizens.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, students are not the party who created the chaotic
\nsituation. They staged peaceful demonstrations from the
\nbeginning. For that reason we will continue to support their
\nactivities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Goeritno said it was the authorities' task to trace the
\nparties which created the chaotic situation as it was not the
\nstudents' responsibility. (ind)<\/p>",
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