Streets, shopping centers deserted during mass prayer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most of the city's main streets were deserted
\nand shopping centers quiet on Sunday as thousands of followers of
\nthe Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization conducted
\nistighotsah (mass prayer) on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The bustling downtown business district turned into a ghost
\ntown, with shops along Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk and
\nshopping centers in Glodok area, West Jakarta closed amid fears
\nof possible riots.<\/p>\n
Only a few private cars traveled the streets while many public
\ntransportation vehicles, such as buses and vans, carried no
\npassengers.<\/p>\n
The traffic was much clearer than it usually is on Sundays.<\/p>\n
The city's main thoroughfares, such as Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jl.
\nMH. Thamrin, Jl. Gatot Subroto, all in Central Jakarta and Jl.
\nRasuna Said, Jl. MT. Haryono, Jl. Fatmawati and Pondok Indah area
\nin South Jakarta were also quiet.<\/p>\n
A bus driver complained of fewer passengers than usual.<\/p>\n
He said the situation on Sunday reminded him of the Muslim
\nholiday Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"I should not have operated my bus but taken a rest at home,\"
\nSuparjo, who drives a bus plying Bekasi-Blok M, was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
The shortage of buses forced people to wait for a long time.<\/p>\n
A woman complained that she only found a bus from Tangerang to
\nKampung Melayu after almost an hour's wait.<\/p>\n
\"I just came out of Tangerang hospital after medical
\ntreatment. The politicians never think that their actions could
\ncause us ordinary people to suffer,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The bus, which usually took the city toll road, took a regular
\nroad when it reached Tomang junction due to the lack of
\ncongestion on the streets.<\/p>\n
Slight tension marked the day as dozens of police officers
\nwere seen standing on alert at road junctions -- which on a
\nnormal day are usually crowded -- such as in Slipi, West Jakarta,
\nCawang, in East Jakarta and Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Some shops in Gajah Mada Plaza and in Glodok electronic market
\nand nearby street traders defied the order of the day by staying
\nopen, although only a small number of visitors were seen.<\/p>\n
\"People were apparently afraid of possible riots so they were
\nreluctant to go out, although we knew that it was just a prayer,\"
\none of the traders said.<\/p>\n
A similar scene was visible in Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua, Lokasari
\nshopping center and some entertainment spots in Mangga Besar, all
\nin West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Some shop owners said it would be business as usual on Monday,
\nalthough they expected a low turn-out of visitors. The House of
\nRepresentatives will decide on that day whether to issue a
\ncensure motion against President Abdurrahman Wahid for a second
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Many NU followers decided to stay in the city longer to
\nwitness the result of the House's plenary session, defying their
\nleaders' order to return home as soon as the mass prayer
\nfinished.<\/p>\n
Besides shops owners who wished to keep their shops open on
\nMonday, some taxi drivers promised that they would operate on
\nthat day.<\/p>\n
\"I don't care what will happen and I will just drive down the
\nstreets. Hopefully there will no chaos,\" one of the taxi drivers,
\nSoeharto, said.<\/p>\n
Quoting some media reports, he predicted the situation on
\nMonday would remain calm.<\/p>\n
He blamed the media for the quiet but tense atmosphere on
\nSunday and, perhaps on Monday, which he said had blown out of
\nproportion the peaceful intention of the mass prayer.<\/p>\n
\"If I look at the television and newspapers, the situation
\nhere was distorted,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that political uncertainty resulting
\nfrom bickering among political leaders had contributed to the
\nslump in the number of passengers and increase in prices of basic
\ngoods.<\/p>\n
\"I get bored with all the political news, now I only care
\nabout economic survival,\" he remarked. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/streets-shopping-centers-deserted-during-mass-prayer-1447893297",
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