It's business as usual in downtown Kota
By Ida Indawati Khouw
JAKARTA (JP): Shop owners in the downtown Kota areas of Pinangsia and Mangga Dua plan to go about their routines and make no preparations in response to widespread rumors of renewed unrest occurring in the capital on Aug. 17.
Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Saturday, traders of Chinese medicines, food, swallows' nests, cosmetics and clothes said the rumors would not stop them from opening their shops.
"I haven't got a clear explanation of the rumors. I think if it happens it will occur as suddenly as it did last May. Up to now, we haven't organize any special security system here," commented I Tjen, who runs the Gema Ria cosmetics shop on crowded Jl. Pancoran in West Jakarta.
"I don't even feel frightened," I Tjen said.
Sharing Tjen's idea, Ling Ling, owner of Bintang Selatan Chinese medicines in the Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua shopping complex in Central Jakarta, added: "I just surrender my life to God, hoping that we can celebrate this year's Independence Day anniversary smoothly."
Neighboring traders in the complex nodded agreement.
"You can ask other shop owners around here to confirm that we're not bothered by the rumors," said Ruta, a swallows' nest trader.
The shopping center management and local authorities have not warned traders about possible riots, she said.
Shopping centers in the area, mostly occupied by Chinese- Indonesian traders, were among the hardest-hit during the May 13 to May 15 unrest.
Business centers located next to the Pancoran complex, like Glodok market, City Hotel, Harco Plaza electronic center and Orion Plaza shopping center were totally burned out during the mass rioting.
According to I Tjen, Pinangsia traders do not have any fears even though Aug. 17 is approaching.
While some vow to keep on trading on that day, others -- like many businesses in other areas -- plan to close on Aug. 17, the country's 53rd Independence Day.
Many people in the city have been told, mostly through word of mouth, that social unrest similar to the May riots will rock the capital on Aug. 17.
Besides continuously dismissing the rumors, the city authorities have called on residents to tighten security in their neighborhoods.
In response to the calls, Widodo, chief of Pinangsia subdistrict, issued a letter dated Aug. 7 for residents and traders in the area, asking them to be more vigilant "as the city's security situation becomes more and more dangerous".
"For the sake of maintaining security and order of the Pinangsia area, you are informed to reactivate neighborhood security systems," Widodo said in the circular.
Hendra and Aming, owners of Pelangi Audio electronics shop in Pinangsia, hailed the call.
"I think the best way is to maintain security ourselves. During the May riots, I saw that security officers did nothing to protect us. I have no more trust in them," Aming said.
The two brothers reopened their shop early last month after it was totally looted by mobs during the riots, causing them a loss of Rp 900 million.
Their shop is not packed with merchandise like it was before, as they are afraid of (possible) further looting.
Aming said that, like some of buildings in the neighborhood, the shop had been renovated and the front door and roof were now made from fireproof material.
"Nevertheless, we are still afraid to display all our merchandise here. We normally ask customers to wait if they want certain goods as we have to take the items from our house in Grogol (West Jakarta)," he said. (ind)