Public asked to remain calm over liquidation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno called yesterday for
\nthe public to remain calm and not to make unfounded comments
\nabout the economic situation which could result in unrest.<\/p>\n
Try warned that people, especially the poor, could be easily
\nagitated by irresponsible rumors.<\/p>\n
\"It would be very wise of everybody if they refrained from
\nspeaking so they don't make blunders by uttering misleading
\nstatements,\" Try was quoted as saying by Daniel Johan, chairman
\nof the Indonesian Buddhist Students Association.<\/p>\n
Daniel and association executives paid a courtesy call on the
\nvice-president at Merdeka Selatan Palace yesterday.<\/p>\n
Daniel said Try was confident the government would cope with
\nthe crisis and that the economy would recover soon.<\/p>\n
\"Government efforts to restore the economy have already shown
\ngood results in the last few days and we are obliged to support
\nit,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Friday a US$23
\nbillion bailout package to help stabilize Indonesia's economy.<\/p>\n
Following the IMF package, the government announced Saturday
\nthe liquidation of 16 ailing private banks.<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia's governor has strongly denied rumors that more
\nbanks will be liquidated, and has also called for calm.<\/p>\n
Despite the government's assurances a general wariness
\npersists, exacerbated by the wide circulation of a list over the
\npast two days naming other banks likely to be closed.<\/p>\n
The government has guaranteed that small deposits in the
\nliquidated banks -- Rp 20 million or less -- would be released
\nthrough one of the state banks on Nov. 13.<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia has set up a hotline -- (021) 3501979, 3501980
\n-- for those who want more information.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung called yesterday on
\npeople with deposits in the 16 closed banks to remain calm and
\nplace their full trust in the government's pledge to settle their
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"Everything is settled now. People should not worry,\" he said
\nafter a signing ceremony for a deal on arms supply and
\nmaintenance with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
\nTechnology and its affiliated companies.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, Minister of Defense and Security
\nEdi Sudradjat said people should take no notice of the circulated
\nlist.<\/p>\n
\"It's a questionable list, clearly no one can account for the
\nvalidity of that list,\" Edi said, reported Antara yesterday.<\/p>\n
The situation at the head offices and branches of the
\nliquidated banks in several cities remained calm despite numerous
\ninquiries by customers about their deposits.<\/p>\n
But security personnel remain on the alert at the offices and
\nbranches.<\/p>\n
The head of Bank Central Asia in Medan, North Sumatra, B.
\nNatapraja denied rumors of a withdrawal \"rush\", but admitted that
\nthe number of withdrawals had increased slightly.<\/p>\n
\"Certain irresponsible people have spread rumors about our
\nbank,\" Antara quoted Natapraja as saying. (prb\/imn)<\/p>\n
Rupiah -- Page 12<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-asked-to-remain-calm-over-liquidation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }