123 buildings, 70 vehicles damaged in Saturday's unrest

JAKARTA (JP): At least 123 buildings and 70 vehicles were damaged during mass looting and burning in the city on Saturday following bloody clashes between demonstrating students and security officers, according to data of the city administration.

Data released by the city social disturbance office reveals that damaged buildings registered up to Monday include two markets, two shopping malls, 84 shops, eight hotels and restaurants, 15 banks, six government buildings, four offices.

The data, which does not mention the locations of the buildings, also discloses that 97 vehicles, including 26 private cars, were damaged as were many public facilities, including traffic signs, traffic lights, road medians, ornamental trees, pavement, police posts and flower pots.

Governor Sutiyoso told reporters on Monday that his administration would prioritize renovation efforts on public facilities.

"We'll pay more attention to public facilities as they are very important for people. Even though our financial sources are now so limited, we'll try our best to get the funds," he said.

However, the governor refused to disclose the financial losses incurred from the violent and irresponsible actions, saying that they were still being calculated.

According to the data, the death toll was 14, while 434 others were lightly or seriously injured.

Separately, Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah said that losses in his mayoralty were estimated at about Rp 2 billion (US$250,000).

"The amount does not include the losses bore by the private sector," he said.

According to him, the mayoralty was the most severely hit by arson and looting.

Study

In an unrelated development, Sutiyoso and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman urged university students to concentrate on their studies instead of staging demonstrations as the latter created economic and social losses.

The two officials made the calls in a meeting with some 100 state and private universities' assistant rectors for administrative and student affairs at City Hall on Monday.

"I hope that both students and university managements understand that all of us feel the effects of the demonstrations' bad excesses. For example, foodstuffs supply are hampered, while roads are blocked etc.

"If this kind of situation goes on for quite a long time, Jakartans will lack foodstuffs," Sutiyoso was quoted by Goeritno Sugengrahardjo, an assistant rector at Kampus Ungu's School of Economics in East Jakarta.

The meeting was closed to reporters.

Commenting on shots fired by security personnel, Djadja said he hoped people would understand that incidents occurred under a chaotic situation in which students were pelting officers with stones. People were also hurling Molotov cocktails and carrying sharp weapons, he said

"We hope that people understand (about the shootings). Security officials were under stress as they hadn't had a rest for days and they were mocked and pelted with stones and other materials," Djadja was quoted by Goeritno as saying.

However, Goeritno said it was impossible for university officials to prevent students from staging protest because it was their right as citizens.

"Moreover, students are not the party who created the chaotic situation. They staged peaceful demonstrations from the beginning. For that reason we will continue to support their activities," he said.

Goeritno said it was the authorities' task to trace the parties which created the chaotic situation as it was not the students' responsibility. (ind)