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)