Blora shopkeepers feeling jittery

Blora shopkeepers feeling jittery

BLORA, Central Java (JP): Although calm has been restored,
shopkeepers in the downtown area of Blora kept their shutters
closed on Thursday in fear of renewed outbreaks of looting.

Many traders were seen moving their stocks out to safer
locations, in spite of a police appeal to reopen their shops for
business.

Blora Police chief Lt. Col. Guritno Sigit said police had been
deployed to secure the area.

Sixteen people are being questioned by police in connection
with the looting, including three accused of throwing Molotov
cocktails.

Eight shops and eight houses were destroyed during rioting on
Monday night, which developed after hundreds of farmers staged a
protest against higher fertilizer prices. On Dec. 1, the
government lifted all remaining subsidies on fertilizers.
(har/01)