Buying spree continues amid fears of rioting

JAKARTA (JP): Residents were out on the second day of a buying spree yesterday amid lingering fears of fresh outbreaks of rioting, despite the facade of normality which has returned to the capital.

The most visible rush was seen in the few shopping centers which survived last week's looting spree.

Thousands of people queued for hours to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines, and money changers reported a surge in the sale of U.S. dollars.

The price of certain basic commodities, including rice, chicken and vegetables, jumped to new highs, although cooking oil and sugar fell marginally in price.

Well-to-do employees in Central Jakarta made use of their lunch breaks to go shopping.

Hundreds of people were seen queuing in checkout lines in Matahari shopping center in Atrium Senen, and Golden Truly in Central Jakarta with full trolleys.

"Over the past several days it has been difficult to find open shops. It would be better to shop now than to find shops closed again if fresh rioting flares up," said Deni, a private bank employee out shopping in Matahari.

Women were seen pushing trolleys packed with sugar, milk an canned food, Antara reported.

"Better to shop now because if unrest breaks out again, food will be hard to find and very expensive," another shopper said.

The price of essential commodities was more stable in shopping centers than in traditional markets.

High-grade Rojolele rice rose from Rp 2,400/kg last week to Rp 2,731/kg, chicken from Rp 10,300/kg to Rp 10,500/kg, and beef from Rp 21,200/kg to Rp 22,000/kg.

Lower grade Bimoli cooking oil fell from Rp 5,000/liter to Rp 4,500/liter, and the price of non-cholesterol Bimoli oil remained at Rp 4,800/liter.

The price of sugar dropped by Rp 100 from Rp 2,550 to Rp 2,450/kg and eggs remained stable at about Rp 5,750/kg.

Meanwhile, money changers Ayumas on Jl. Kwitang and Anugerah Adiarta on Jl. Agus Salim, both Central Jakarta, were packed by wealthy people selling U.S. dollars.

Dollars were selling for Rp 12,500 each, and could be bought for Rp 10,000 at Ayumas, and Rp 13,000 and Rp 10,000 respectively at Anugerah Adiarta.

An Anugerah Adiarta official said that when mob violence flared last week, people rushed to buy dollars with a view to fleeing abroad.

A government sale of essential commodities to the public in several traditional markets passed quietly yesterday, due mainly to the lack of prior announcement.

Officials in charge of the operation in Kramat Jati, Jatinegara and Tanah Abang markets arrived well after 10 a.m., when most people had already finished shopping.

Vegetables in the markets were scarce and expensive because the supply from other provinces had yet to be fully restored after last weeks rioting, traders said. (pan)