Cheap market to continue despite looting: Sutiyoso<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday that the
\ngovernment-sponsored cheap market program at the National
\nMonument (Monas) park, Central Jakarta, would continue despite an
\nact of looting by hundreds of people on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"The decision to continue the program was taken as it is badly
\nneeded by people to get staple food at reasonable prices,\"
\nSutiyoso said, adding that the market would be held every
\nSaturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said he had also instructed the city's five mayors to
\norganize cheap markets in their areas as soon as possible by
\nmaking use of open spaces.<\/p>\n
The governor said the city administration was cooperating with
\nthe city police and the military command to guard the occasions.<\/p>\n
\"For sure, we will improve security around cheap market
\nlocations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported that about 500 people looted the
\nBandeng market cooperative stand at the two-day cheap market in
\nMonas park on Saturday and took away 170 crates of cooking oil,
\neach containing 12 kilograms, without paying.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m., an hour after President
\nB.J. Habibie opened the market which was aimed at providing city
\ndwellers with essential foodstuffs at affordable prices.<\/p>\n
Gambir Police deputy chief First. Lt. Andries Hermanto
\ninsisted on Sunday that the incident was not an act of looting
\nbut only a kind of petty theft.<\/p>\n
According to him, the incident caused a loss of Rp 7 million
\n(US$518.5), not Rp 20 million as reported earlier.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso also agreed with Andries' statement. \"Many people
\nwanted to buy cooking oil but due to the small number of stall
\nattendants they just took away the cooking oil without paying.\"<\/p>\n
The governor urged Jakartans not to loot the planned cheap
\nmarkets as such an act was feared to create fear among
\nbusinesspeople wanting to help the needy.<\/p>\n
\"Those who suffer losses are not only the sellers but also the
\nwhole country as well.<\/p>\n
\"As Jakarta is home to embassies, acts of looting will create
\na bad image to foreigners who will in turn consider us as a
\ncountry without any laws,\" he said. (ind)<\/p>",
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