It's business as usual in downtown Kota<\/p>\n
By Ida Indawati Khouw<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Shop owners in the downtown Kota areas of
\nPinangsia and Mangga Dua plan to go about their routines and make
\nno preparations in response to widespread rumors of renewed
\nunrest occurring in the capital on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Saturday, traders of Chinese
\nmedicines, food, swallows' nests, cosmetics and clothes said the
\nrumors would not stop them from opening their shops.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't got a clear explanation of the rumors. I think if
\nit happens it will occur as suddenly as it did last May. Up to
\nnow, we haven't organize any special security system here,\"
\ncommented I Tjen, who runs the Gema Ria cosmetics shop on crowded
\nJl. Pancoran in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I don't even feel frightened,\" I Tjen said.<\/p>\n
Sharing Tjen's idea, Ling Ling, owner of Bintang Selatan
\nChinese medicines in the Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua shopping complex
\nin Central Jakarta, added: \"I just surrender my life to God,
\nhoping that we can celebrate this year's Independence Day
\nanniversary smoothly.\"<\/p>\n
Neighboring traders in the complex nodded agreement.<\/p>\n
\"You can ask other shop owners around here to confirm that
\nwe're not bothered by the rumors,\" said Ruta, a swallows' nest
\ntrader.<\/p>\n
The shopping center management and local authorities have not
\nwarned traders about possible riots, she said.<\/p>\n
Shopping centers in the area, mostly occupied by Chinese-
\nIndonesian traders, were among the hardest-hit during the May 13
\nto May 15 unrest.<\/p>\n
Business centers located next to the Pancoran complex, like
\nGlodok market, City Hotel, Harco Plaza electronic center and
\nOrion Plaza shopping center were totally burned out during the
\nmass rioting.<\/p>\n
According to I Tjen, Pinangsia traders do not have any fears
\neven though Aug. 17 is approaching.<\/p>\n
While some vow to keep on trading on that day, others -- like
\nmany businesses in other areas -- plan to close on Aug. 17, the
\ncountry's 53rd Independence Day.<\/p>\n
Many people in the city have been told, mostly through word of
\nmouth, that social unrest similar to the May riots will rock the
\ncapital on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Besides continuously dismissing the rumors, the city
\nauthorities have called on residents to tighten security in their
\nneighborhoods.<\/p>\n
In response to the calls, Widodo, chief of Pinangsia
\nsubdistrict, issued a letter dated Aug. 7 for residents and
\ntraders in the area, asking them to be more vigilant \"as the
\ncity's security situation becomes more and more dangerous\".<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of maintaining security and order of the
\nPinangsia area, you are informed to reactivate neighborhood
\nsecurity systems,\" Widodo said in the circular.<\/p>\n
Hendra and Aming, owners of Pelangi Audio electronics shop in
\nPinangsia, hailed the call.<\/p>\n
\"I think the best way is to maintain security ourselves.
\nDuring the May riots, I saw that security officers did nothing to
\nprotect us. I have no more trust in them,\" Aming said.<\/p>\n
The two brothers reopened their shop early last month after it
\nwas totally looted by mobs during the riots, causing them a loss
\nof Rp 900 million.<\/p>\n
Their shop is not packed with merchandise like it was before,
\nas they are afraid of (possible) further looting.<\/p>\n
Aming said that, like some of buildings in the neighborhood,
\nthe shop had been renovated and the front door and roof were now
\nmade from fireproof material.<\/p>\n
\"Nevertheless, we are still afraid to display all our
\nmerchandise here. We normally ask customers to wait if they want
\ncertain goods as we have to take the items from our house in
\nGrogol (West Jakarta),\" he said. (ind)<\/p>",
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