City activities undeterred by massive rallies

City activities undeterred by massive rallies

JAKARTA (JP): Life went on as usual in the capital on Monday
despite massive demonstrations staged by groups in support of and
against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

There were no traces of tension as people turned up for their
social and business activities.

People were seen packing the city's electronic shopping center
in Glodok downtown, West Jakarta, which was destroyed during the
riot in May 1998.

Most shops were open as their owners said they believed the
rally would take place peacefully at the House of Representatives
and pose no threat to the business center unlike in the past.

"I'm sure that there won't be riots," a VCD trader told The
Jakarta Post.

Most of shop owners admitted knowledge of the rally from the
media, which repeatedly reported that demonstrators might amass
at the House.

Hundreds of street traders along streets in front of the
markets were also seen displaying their merchandise as usual.

Business was as usual in the Kenari house tools and equipment
market on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, just a few hundred
meters off the University of Indonesia campus, where hundreds of
students gathered on Monday morning before marching to the House.

The Senen market, also in central Jakarta, was equally as busy
on Monday. Customers were seen crowding the market which is known
for its special merchandise of textile, electronic and automotive
spare parts.

Schools in the city, ranging from kindergartens to senior high
schools, resumed their activities unperturbed by the reports of
mass rallies on Monday.

On Jan. 15, schools were closed except for a small number of
privately run educational institutes following rumors of fighting
between supporters in the capital. Security authorities were
deployed against a threat that never took place on Monday.

Offices along Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Rasuna Said,
stayed open although some of them only used one gate for
visitors.

Traffic congestion, as usual, occurred on two main streets Jl.
Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk near the Glodok shopping center.

But "unusual" heavy traffic jams occurred on streets as
thousands of demonstrators moved to the House. Demonstrators, who
took up most of the street en route to the House, prevented
motorists from passing by.

Thousands of bus passengers were seen stranded in the
afternoon, such as in Slipi area, west Jakarta and Cawang, in
East Jakarta as buses plying the routes were halted by the
rallies.

Some motorists, especially motorcyclists, parked their
vehicles alongside Jl. Gatot Subroto and other routes leading to
the House to watch the rally. (jun)