Jakarta returns to normal after violent clashes

JAKARTA (JP): The hustle and bustle of the capital resumed on Sunday after three days of tension following violent clashes between antigovernment protesters and riot troops on Thursday and Friday.

Traffic on the city's main thoroughfare of Jl. Sudirman, a scene of running battles between security troops and protesters for two days, also returned to normal.

Debris resulting from street battles, which flared after members of the House of Representatives failed to meet the students' demands to drop the state security bill, was no longer visible along the 12-lane road after street sweepers of private companies and the city administration cleaned the area shortly after the military -- on behalf of the government -- decided to postpone the bill on Friday evening.

The cleaners removed broken glass left from Molotov cocktails, sticks and iron bars taken from public facilities, leaving the site almost the same as before.

Atma Jaya University, which was used as a base for the students in their protest, was deserted.

The overall peaceful situation was made more evident by the absence of troops.

The same atmosphere was apparent at the University of Indonesia's Salemba campus, which one of the dead victims attended.

The campus on Jl. Salemba in Central Jakarta was void of people, but was plastered with posters and banners condemning the military and police over the senseless shooting.

Dozens of security personnel, however, could be seen on guard in the vicinity of the House compound, about one kilometer from the Sudirman area.

But their number was far fewer than on previous days.

Some motorists pulled over to the side of the road at the T- intersection near the Jakarta Hospital on Jl. Sudirman, where a crowd of onlookers were blindly fired upon late Friday. At least three people were killed in the incident, including student Yap Yun Hap of the University of Indonesia.

Motorists tried to read things written on the flower wreaths left at the scene in memory of the victims.

A number of yellow flags, a symbol of mourning, were also erected at the site.

The city began to return to normal on Saturday evening when entertainment spots in various locations, such as those along Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Blora and the Blok M area, began to show signs of life again.

Many street cafes, which have been mushrooming in the city this year after the recession crippled the economy, were crowded with customers in the evening.

"I am now brave enough to venture out as I don't believe there will be riots now that the state security bill, which was strongly opposed by the students and the public, has been postponed by the government.

"So, insya Allah (God willing) there will be no chaos," Jumhur Sulistyo, a visitor to a street cafe in Monas Park in Central Jakarta, was quoted by Antara as saying.

Shops at malls, shopping centers and traditional markets also started to get back into routine on Sunday after being fearful of turmoil over the past three days.

Shopping malls like Plaza Indonesia and Menteng Prada and the Sarinah department store in Central Jakarta also resumed their activities.

Separately, several expatriates here said they had become accustomed to tension resulting from the seemingly endless violence in the city.

Interviewed separately on Sunday, a British man, Canadians and a Filipino said they felt at no risk whatsoever because foreigners were not targeted in the escalating violence in the capital.

Canadian housewife Reinhilde Rochow felt that people should think wisely and always prepare for the worst.

"I have prepared myself, like keeping enough food and water; then you don't have to go out foolishly while there are problems out there," she said.

Rochow said she had become used to the violence in Jakarta.

Another Canadian, Eric Culley, said he just kept well-informed about developments from the Internet, friends and his embassy.

"What is needed is be careful and to watch out for any development. I also learn more Bahasa Indonesia to get the information easier," the consultant of a private employee said.

Private English teacher Robert from England said he did not consider himself to be in any danger at times of violence.

"I didn't even go abroad in May last year when massive riots hit the city. I just stayed at home. Maybe it's because I'm unmarried, things could be different if I had wife and children," he said. (bsr/ind)