Cheap market to continue despite looting: Sutiyoso

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday that the government-sponsored cheap market program at the National Monument (Monas) park, Central Jakarta, would continue despite an act of looting by hundreds of people on Saturday.

"The decision to continue the program was taken as it is badly needed by people to get staple food at reasonable prices," Sutiyoso said, adding that the market would be held every Saturday and Sunday.

He said he had also instructed the city's five mayors to organize cheap markets in their areas as soon as possible by making use of open spaces.

The governor said the city administration was cooperating with the city police and the military command to guard the occasions.

"For sure, we will improve security around cheap market locations," he said.

Antara news agency reported that about 500 people looted the Bandeng market cooperative stand at the two-day cheap market in Monas park on Saturday and took away 170 crates of cooking oil, each containing 12 kilograms, without paying.

The incident occurred at 7:30 a.m., an hour after President B.J. Habibie opened the market which was aimed at providing city dwellers with essential foodstuffs at affordable prices.

Gambir Police deputy chief First. Lt. Andries Hermanto insisted on Sunday that the incident was not an act of looting but only a kind of petty theft.

According to him, the incident caused a loss of Rp 7 million (US$518.5), not Rp 20 million as reported earlier.

Sutiyoso also agreed with Andries' statement. "Many people wanted to buy cooking oil but due to the small number of stall attendants they just took away the cooking oil without paying."

The governor urged Jakartans not to loot the planned cheap markets as such an act was feared to create fear among businesspeople wanting to help the needy.

"Those who suffer losses are not only the sellers but also the whole country as well.

"As Jakarta is home to embassies, acts of looting will create a bad image to foreigners who will in turn consider us as a country without any laws," he said. (ind)