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)