Calm in Ketapang but schools are still closed

Calm in Ketapang but schools are still closed

JAKARTA (JP): Residents in Ketapang, West Jakarta, bore
witness to an uneasy calm on Tuesday as most shops and offices in
the area reopened for the first time since violent clashes
erupted three days ago.

Traffic clogged up Jl. K.H. Zainul Arifin, the street where
violence first erupted on Sunday, and other main thoroughfares in
the area including Jl. Gadjah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk.

Most shops in Gajah Mada Plaza were open for business and
putting a brave face on the lack of customers passing through
their doors.

However, many Christian schools and amusement centers in the
area remained closed.

A Ketapang Christian School security guard said the school
board had asked its students to return to classes on Thursday.

"We fear fresh outbreaks of rioting," he said.

The school caters for children from elementary school age
right up to senior high school level.

An employee of Santa Ursula Catholic School on Jl. Lapangan
Banteng, Central Jakarta, said the school would remain closed
until Monday.

"We are still repairing damage inflicted during Sunday's
riot," she said.

A similar stance had been taken by Santa Maria Catholic School
on Jl. Juanda in Central Jakarta and a Christian elementary
school on Jl. Pembangunan in West Jakarta.

Military and police officers were deployed to guard the
schools.

Groups of workers were seen sifting through the ashes of fires
at Jemaat Ketapang church and Pantekosta church, both on Jl. K.H.
Zainul Arifin.

Police had sealed off the scenes of some of the worst unrest
on Sunday, including the churches and the Ketapang 11 amusement
center, in which eight people died after it was set alight by
angry local residents.

The six others fatalities died at the hands of mobs during the
riot. Most of the dead were people of Ambonese descent hired as
guards by the operator of the amusement center.

Residents armed with sharpened bamboo poles still stood guard
at entrances to alleys throughout the area on Tuesday, but were
noticeably fewer in number than on the previous day.

Many alleys were still not open to motorists.

Speaking earlier on Monday, city police chief Maj. Gen.
Noegroho Djajoesman urged city residents from all walks of life
to get back to business as usual without delay.

"The situation is normal and secure. Police officers will help
to protect residents trying to go about their daily business,"
Antara quoted Noegroho as saying during a visit to the area early
on Monday morning.

In another related development, the West Jakarta mayoralty
office revealed on Tuesday that material losses stemming from the
riot amounted to Rp 1.4 billion.

The total includes damage inflicted to churches, banks,
vehicles, a restaurant and several other buildings, it said.
(jun/ylt)