Buying spree continues amid fears of rioting
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)