It's business as usual in downtown Kota
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)