Students meet Bogor mayor to express their concern<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): A 14-strong delegation of Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture (IPB) students went to the Bogor mayoralty office
\nSaturday to express their concern about events arising from the
\nmonetary crisis.<\/p>\n
Heri Ardin, the spokesman for representatives of the
\ninstitute's student senate, said the group met with Mayor Eddy
\nGunardi to discuss the spread of negative rumors, ranging from
\nstrikes to riots.<\/p>\n
"Everyone is trying to save herself or himself without
\nthinking about others, such as hoarding basic food commodities.
\nIt is feared these acts will spark unrest as has happened in
\nother cities," Heri said.<\/p>\n
In a bid to prevent the current condition deteriorating
\nfurther, the delegation gave the mayor a four-point statement
\nprepared by the students.<\/p>\n
Heri said the first step urged the Bogor mayoralty to take
\naction against the alleged food hoarders.<\/p>\n
Second, the students asked the Bogor chapter of the
\nAssociation of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) to instruct
\nall minivan drivers not to go on strike.<\/p>\n
Third, the Ulema Council is urged to issue a statement through
\nthe mosques asking members of Moslem community to be calm and not
\neasily provoked.<\/p>\n
"Last, but not least, we ask the security officers to further
\nintensify their patrols, especially around areas prone to riots,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the students' statements, Eddy said his
\nmayoralty and its staff had made preparations for the possibility
\nof unfavorable situations.<\/p>\n
"We have repeatedly held market operations by offering basic
\nneeds at affordable prices to the people."<\/p>\n
He said the mayoralty always welcomed and even invited input
\nfrom the public.<\/p>\n
Coordination between the security, Ulema Council, Organda and
\nthe Bogor chapter of State Logistics Agency (Dolog) had
\nalso been intensified, he said.<\/p>\n
Head of the local Dolog agency M. Nazar said it had conducted
\nmarket operations involving 28 food items and the agency would
\nalways assist groups that wanted to stage cheap markets for the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Eddy also reminded Dolog to intensify its supervision of the
\ndistribution of goods.<\/p>\n
"But don't give too freely. Who knows if they'll hoard the
\nstocks and not distribute them to the public at cheap markets."<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Bogor chapter of Organda A. Chotib Malik said
\nthere had been no strikes conducted by minivan drivers in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
He said vehicle owners and their drivers were committed to
\ncontinuing operations despite the skyrocketing prices of spare
\nparts.<\/p>\n
Head of the Ulema Council Chaer Saleh said the holy fasting
\nmonth and Idul Fitri holiday mood still remained among Bogor
\nMoslems.<\/p>\n
"Information on the need for calmness to face the crisis has
\nbeen carried out through mosques, Islamic education schools and
\nprayer groups," he said.<\/p>\n
The chief of Bogor District Military Command, Lt. Col. Mustofa
\nHadi Pranoto, assured the public that Bogor was relatively safe.<\/p>\n
He said the areas prone to riots were safe and community
\nleaders had been ordered to collect data on any newcomers.<\/p>\n
But he urged the public to report anything suspicious to
\nNational Alert Headquarters by dialing 122. (24\/emf)<\/p>",
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