Fears of unrest keep people away from city center<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With President Abdurrahman Wahid having
\nannounced he was going to declare a state of emergency on Friday,
\nsome areas of the capital were quieter than usual, although the
\nPresident eventually backed down on his threat.<\/p>\n
Shopping malls and stores opened, but many experienced a
\nmarked decrease in the number of customers. And traffic on the
\nusually clogged streets of the capital was markedly smoother
\nthroughout the day.<\/p>\n
As of late afternoon, traffic on main roads such as Jl. MH
\nThamrin in Central Jakarta and Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta was
\nremarkably light for a Friday. There were still many motorists on
\nthe roads, but none of the traffic jams that usually occur at
\nnoon and between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., when office workers
\nnormally begin heading home.<\/p>\n
There was a traffic jam at Jl. MH Thamrin heading in the
\ndirection of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle at about 3 p.m.,
\nbut that was because of a student demonstration. Past the traffic
\ncircle onto Jl. Sudirman, traffic was smooth.<\/p>\n
The street running in front of Plaza Senayan, Jl. Asia Afrika,
\nwas largely vacant of vehicles in the afternoon, though the
\nshopping center itself was crowded.<\/p>\n
The scene was similar in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, in the
\nmorning.<\/p>\n
Ahmad, a commuter from Serpong, Tangerang, said the Serpong-
\nBlok M bus which he takes every day was unusually empty.<\/p>\n
\"Usually, it's packed with people. But it was a little vacant
\ntoday,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The Kebon Jeruk toll road, Ahmad said, was also less crowded.<\/p>\n
\"It usually takes me two hours to travel to Slipi, West
\nJakarta, but this morning it took less than one and a half
\nhours,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the electronics center of Glodok in Central Jakarta traffic
\nwas also light.<\/p>\n
This area is often targeted in riots because of the large
\nnumber of Chinese-Indonesians who live and own businesses here.<\/p>\n
According a parking attendant in Glodok, Kirman, the traffic
\nwas unusually light.<\/p>\n
\"You see, there are still many spaces in the parking lot.
\nUsually at this hour there are no spaces left. The traffic jam is
\nalso not as bad as usual,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kirman added that it might have something to do with the
\nPresident's threat to declare a state of emergency.<\/p>\n
At the Harco Glodok shopping center, security officer Nurhusin
\nsaid sales on the day had fallen by at least 50 percent.<\/p>\n
\"On Fridays people usually pack this shopping center, but not
\ntoday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nurhusin said the shopping center had taken steps to prepare
\nfor any outbreaks of violence. \"The marines said they were ready
\nto help us,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, many areas in South Jakarta seemed unaffected on
\nFriday. Mayestik shopping center, Blok M and Radio Dalam were all
\nhumming with activity as usual.<\/p>\n
A woman, who gave her name as Vera, was shopping for clothes
\nin Mayestik. She said that she was hesitant to leave her house in
\nBintaro, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"At first I was afraid, but lots of people said everything was
\nOK, so I came here. I think South Jakarta is safe, unlike Central
\nJakarta which is prone (to riots),\" she said.(hdn)<\/p>",
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