Bima and Ende calm as protest hits Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Riot-hit Bima and Ende in Nusa Tenggara were
\ncalm yesterday as security authorities managed to bring the two
\ntowns under control, local officials said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, scores of people staged a peaceful protest at Bank
\nIndonesia and the State Logistics Agency over the soaring prices
\nof essential commodities.<\/p>\n
West Nusa Tenggara deputy police chief Col. Budiman Sulaeman
\ntold Antara that 15 men were arrested following Saturday's riot
\nin Bima when a mob burned down three stores and damaged 20
\nothers.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of police officers backed up by scores of soldiers
\nwere still deployed in the streets to maintain order, Budiman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Ende in East Nusa Tenggara, residents of Chinese descent
\nhowever were still too afraid to reopen their stores, the news
\nagency reported.<\/p>\n
More than 100 of the town's residents of Chinese descent,
\nwhose stores and houses were targeted in Sunday's riot, have been
\ntaking refuge in local police and military stations, it said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the security officers in Ende fired several warning
\nshots to disperse a mob returning to the town center after East
\nNusa Tenggara Governor Herman Musakabe -- accompanied by
\nprovincial military chief Col. Bambang Sumardji, deputy police
\nchief Col. Salikin Munits, the local logistic agency's deputy
\nchief, Slamet Zubaidy -- visited the riot scene.<\/p>\n
An indefinite night curfew has been imposed in Ende from 7
\np.m. to 6 a.m. since Sunday night.<\/p>\n
At least 21 stores, mostly belonging to residents of Chinese
\ndescent, were set ablaze and 71 damaged in Sunday's riot in the
\ntown. All were looted, the news agency said, quoting Musakabe.<\/p>\n
A different account, however, was given by Ende's regent,
\nFrans Gedowolo, when contacted by The Jakarta Post from the East
\nNusa Tenggara town of Maumere.<\/p>\n
He said 16 stores, two cars, and two motorcycles were torched
\nin the unrest in downtown Ende, after a demonstration by around
\n200 people turned violent.<\/p>\n
The mob was angry over soaring prices of the nine basic
\ncommodities; rice, sugar, detergent, cooking oil, kerosene,
\nclothing, unbleached textiles, salt, and salted fish.<\/p>\n
Musakabe said in East Nusa Tenggara's capital of Kupang that
\nSunday's vandalism and looting in Ende were criminal acts.<\/p>\n
No arrests was reported, but the police have questioned
\nseveral people allegedly involved in the riot, Antara said.<\/p>\n
He conceded that the unrest was sparked by the soaring prices
\nof commodities.<\/p>\n
\"Those who have suffered losses are not only the shop owners,
\nbut the whole community for whom it will now be difficult to find
\nplaces to buy basic needs,\" the governor said.<\/p>\n
The local government has planned to sell basic commodities
\ndirectly to the people in markets.<\/p>\n
As much as 5,312 tons of rice has been prepared for the market
\noperation in Ende, Musakabe said. Similar operations were also
\nbeing conducted in other areas in the province.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, hundreds of protesters marched through city
\nthoroughfares to demand the government restore the shattered
\ncurrency and ensure the country had enough basic commodities.<\/p>\n
Under the watchful eyes of riot police and soldiers, including
\nmembers of the Army Strategic Reserves Command, the six-hour
\nprotest passed without incident.<\/p>\n
The approximately 200 demonstrators were mostly supporters of
\nthe ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri. They marched to the central bank offices,
\nprotesting the instability of the rupiah and demanding the bank's
\ngovernor resign.<\/p>\n
The crowd then moved along the city's main thoroughfares,
\nmarching around eight kilometers, to the State Logistics Agency.
\nTheir numbers swelled as passersby joined in.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves the Red and White Force, the protesters
\ndemanded, among other things, that funds allocated for projects
\nnot directly related to food supply should be withdrawn and top
\npriority be given to ensuring smooth distribution of basic
\ncommodities.<\/p>\n
In Bandung yesterday, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto called
\non people to ignore rumors and leaflets that provoked them to
\nriot in the wake of the economic crisis. (44\/yac\/emf\/aan)<\/p>",
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