Govt reports huge losses from massive riots, lootings

JAKARTA (JP): The government is still estimating material losses incurred by the massive rioting, looting and burning in the capital, its surrounding towns and other provincial cities over the last three days, but said the losses would certainly reach trillions of rupiah, a minister said yesterday.

"Losses in Jakarta from damaged properties alone are estimated at Rp 2.5 trillion (US$250 million)," Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita told reporters.

Ginandjar and several other ministers were speaking to reporters yesterday minutes before they reported to President Soeharto at his Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, residence yesterday evening on the latest developments in the country.

Ginandjar was accompanied by Minister of Industry and Trade Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono, Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin, Minister of Defense and Security/ Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoedin and chief of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Beddu Amang.

Governor Sutiyoso said about 4,940 buildings in the city had been damaged, burned down or looted. They included 4,204 shops, shopping malls, restaurants, automobile workshops and more than 500 bank offices.

In addition, he added, 1,026 houses were either looted or damaged, two churches were burned down, 1,120 cars and 821 motorbikes were set ablaze and almost 520 street lights and traffic lights were damaged.

Sjahril Sabirin said 534 bank offices belonging to 64 banks throughout the country, including 501 in Greater Jakarta, and 220 automatic teller machines were damaged or looted.

"But the central bank will resume clearing tomorrow and all banks are called on to reopen," Sjahril added.

Kuntoro said Pertamina oil company suffered Rp 1.5 billion in material losses, which included the damaging of 12 gas stations.

Bulog's chief Beddu Amang reported that 500 tons of rice and 1,800 tons of sugar worth Rp 4.24 billion owned by his agency had been looted.

"But our food stocks are enough. We still hold 2.4 million tons of rice, 474,621 tons of sugar, 150,128 tons of soybeans, 46,236 tons of wheat flour and 442,845 tons of wheat grain," Beddu added.

Ginandjar said material losses throughout the country could reach the equivalent of billions of dollars.

"But of no less significance was the damage done to the economic system, production and distribution operations," he added.

He also expressed great concern over the disruption caused to the banking system, which ground to a halt over the past three days.

"Many commercial borrowers may also be rendered unable to repay their bank loans, thereby increasing bad debts within the banking system," Ginandjar said.

He added that tens of thousands of workers could lose their jobs as a result of the extensive damage to commercial buildings and businesses.

"All this will make our efforts to stabilize the rupiah and the economy much more difficult," Ginandjar added. (vin)